Wool body calls for 2 per cent levy as industry prepares to vote

Wool growers have been asked to boost their levy contributions to 2 per cent to protect existing industry market and research programs.

Wool growers have been asked to boost their levy contributions to 2 per cent to protect existing industry market and research programs.

Australian Wool Innovation has this week asked growers lift their commitment from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent to avoid “a significant cut in programs”.

Wool producers are being asked to vote on what levy they want to pay.

But the growers’ peak body, WooProducers Australia, has decided not to make a recommendation on how members should vote and instead leave it to the individual to decide how much they want to pay.

WPA president Steve Harrison said it was important for growers to vote, but his group would not advise what levy level was best.

“We know that wool growers are doing it tough at the moment with depressed wool prices in the face of increasing costs, so thought it appropriate to just encourage growers to make an informed decision on what they consider is an adequate levy rate to contribute to AWI,” Mr Harrison said.

“The important thing for wool growers to do is turn up and vote.

“We’ve seen a decline in the number of eligible voters participating in recent WoolPolls and with the industry facing many external pressures at the moment the last thing we can afford is grower apathy to be a determining factor in the outcome.”

AWI chairman Jock Laurie said even voting for the status quo of 1.5 per cent levy would cause programs to be cut.

Australian Wool Innovation chair Jock Laurie. AWI chairman Jock Laurie.

He said a Voter Information Memorandum sent to growers earlier in the year showed spending would need to be cut by $10 million even with a 1.5 per cent levy.

“Since then, lower forecasts in production and in the Eastern Market Indicator mean AWI project spending will drop even further,” Mr Laurie said.

“The levy is a collective investment in the future of the industry, and it is up to growers to choose their levy.”

The Wool Poll vote is held every three years and voting packs will be sent to almost 40,000 voters. Voting opens on September 20 and runs until November 1.