Simpler, concise information to decide on wool levy

It could take as little as five minutes to decide what wool levy growers want to pay in a move to make the process simpler.

Wool growers will get a dramatically different information pack when they vote later this year for how much levy they will pay.

The Wool Poll Panel has devised a simpler and shorter info pack which should allow growers to “make a decision in five minutes” according to panel chairman Richard Keniry.

While much of what happens in the process is governed by the Wool Services Privatisation Act, Mr Keniry said there had been a deliberate attempt this year to make information more concise while still meeting requirements.

This year, growers will vote on a range of levy amounts - zero, 1 per cent. 1.5 per cent and 2.0 per cent. The current wool levy is 1.5 per cent.

Mr Keniry said Australian Wool Innovation had provided information on what could be achieved at each wool levy amount, and it was the panel’s role to ensure this was easily understood by voters.

“The committee met on June 12 and I will write to the minister (for agriculture, Murray Watt) within the next week to get the sign off,” Mr Keniry said.

“It is not the role of the panel to recommend which rate, more that we make it extremely clear what each levy amount will mean.”

The poor performance of wool prices is expected to come into the consideration of the levy amount, with the benchmark Eastern Market Indicator closing last week at 1160c/kg clean, only slightly higher than the 1139c/kg it was this time last year. At its peak, the EMI hit 2027c/kg in mid 2018.

Wool Producers Australia chief executive officer Jo Hall said all wool growers who were eligible should make the time to vote.

Ms Hall said unlike AWI director elections where producers needed to register to vote, all growers who had paid at least $100 in wool levies over the past three years would get a voting pack.

She said it was too early in the process to advise which levy level growers should vote for.

“Until we see the figures and forecasts from Australian Wool Innovation, we are in no position to make an informed decision,” Ms Hall said.

Wool growers will receive voter packs in mid September and will have until November 1 to make their decision.

The results will be announced at the AWI annual general meeting later that month and will come into effect on July 1, 2025.