Every three years growers get to say how much they want to invest in wool’s future

Paying the levy is compulsory but voting is voluntary, so even if wool is a byproduct, here is why growers need to have their say.

Voting opens tomorrow on what levy rate Australia’s wool growers invest into the research, development and marketing of their industry for the next three years.

At the moment, growers pay 1.5 per cent of their gross greasy wool sales to Australian Wool Innovation.

The current WoolPoll ballot asks levy payers to vote for the rate they think growers should pay, with AWI itself recommending a 2 per cent levy rate.

WoolPoll is a voluntary vote of wool levy payers who have paid at least $100 in wool levies during the past three years.

AWI chairman Jock Laurie has said an increased levy from the current 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent would “deliver more industry-wide investment” to benefit all wool growers.

“Our industry has opportunities but also many challenges and that’s why we need the extra investment,” Mr Laurie said.

The independent WoolPoll Panel chair for this year’s vote, Rich Keniry, is a commercial wool grower, who manages the family business, Kildara Pastoral Company, based at Cumnock in NSW.

Mr Keniry said the panel aimed to deliver clear and concise voter information to growers, and to encourage participation in the voting process, but did not make a voting recommendation of its own. Instead, each grower needed to decide for themselves.

And while some growers may be apathetic about having their say on the levy, whatever the outcome, every grower was required to pay it, so they may as well have their say, he said.

“At the end of the day it is a compulsory levy and a voluntary vote; so whether it is $100 in levies or $100,000, the grower still has an interest in that investment and what AWI does in future, whether wool is a big or small part of their business,” he said.

It comes as the Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders has swung their support behind a 2 per cent levy rate.

Bernadette and Geoff Davidson from Moorundie Merinos, Keith, SA. Photo by Chloe Smith.

Chair of the group, Geoff Davidson, Moorundie Poll Merino stud, Keith, South Australia, said the organisation urged growers to make an informed decision in WoolPoll.

He said stud breeder’s association “believe the extra investment, particularly in marketing, will be the catalyst for improved wool prices”.

“The more you look at AWI, the more you realise the importance of a strong industry body,” Mr Davidson said.

“The work that AWI has done in the European community, defending wool’s environmental footprint against the synthetics industry has been game changing.

“This has certainly improved European market access.”

He said AWI’s investment in shearer training also delivered dividends, benefiting shearers, wool handlers and producers. Investments in developing the Chinese wool processing industry should also aid wool prices, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Davidson said it was also “time for us all to get a bit more involved” in actively supporting the future of the sheep and wool industries, and said he fully backed the recent National Farmers Federation rally for farmers in Canberra.

WoolPoll voting opens on Friday, September 20 and closes on November 1 and growers can vote online at www.wool.com/woolpoll, by mail, email or fax.

Result will be announced at AWI’s annual general meeting on November 15 and the levy rate takes effect from July 1, 2025.