Wool Poll result in: Growers vote for 1.5 per cent

Wool growers have voted on their levy spend at Australian Wool Innovation’s annual general meeting – but only a fraction of those who could vote actually did.

Growers voted for a continuation of the 1.5 per cent levy, where shearing and bioharvesting were given the highest priority Picture: Zoe Phillips

The lowest voter turn out ever in this year’s wool poll has reflected growing apathy in the sheep industry.

Less than 1 per cent of eligible wool growers listened in to today’s annual general meeting, held online, and only 18 per cent of eligible levy payers chose to vote in the wool poll, which determines how much of their income goes towards research, development and marketing.

The startling figures fly in the face of comments by Australian Wool Innovation chairman Jock Laurie, who said he was encouraged that more growers had supported a 2 per cent levy in this year’s vote than in the past wool poll in 2021, albeit that preferences meant a 1.5 per cent levy vote won.

But in reality, even if half of those who voted opted to support 2 per cent, that translated to just 10 per cent of all growers across the nation who wanted that level of spending directed to AWI.

AWI told levy papers it will need to tighten its belt, and the meeting was told a new strategic plan would be developed early next year based on spending of about $50 million.

AWI declined to comment on whether it would maintain its 60:40 spend between marketing and research and development.

There were no questions from levy payers during the annual general meeting, held online – a far cry from meetings in the past, where the board was grilled over spending.

EARLIER

Wool growers have voted to keep their levy spend at 1.5 per cent of their gross income.

The results of Wool Poll, held every three years, were announced at the annual general meeting of Australian Wool Innovation today.

The meeting, held online, was told levy payers had voted to maintain the levy at 1.5 per cent, the same level as they have for the past six years.

While the primary vote was for 2 per cent, preferences meant that the 1.5 per cent levy will be maintained for the next three years.

In the Voter Information Memorandum, distributed to growers in September, various spending regimes were outlined for each of the levy rates – 0, 1, 1.5 and 2 per cent.

At 2 per cent, AWI said it could maintain 70 per cent of its marketing program but would decrease the amount it spent on wild dog control.

Priority investments included shearer training, bioharvesting of wool and work in emerging markets, but also the developing of visual scoring apps and tools, as well as sheep classing workshops.

But growers voted for a continuation of the 1.5 per cent levy, where shearer training and bioharvesting were given the highest priority while spending on internal parasite research, wild dog control and marketing will be decreased.

The 1.5 per cent levy, the status quo, will deliver $54.6 million in revenue for AWI based on an Eastern Market Indicator of 1194 cents a kilogram and a total wool clip of 306 million kilograms. The EMI closed on Wednesday at 1142 cents a kilogram and the latest forecast for wool volume for the 2024/2025 season is 286 million kilograms, meaning revenue will come in under this.

The 2 per cent levy was expected to generate $66.1 million in levies, while a 1 per cent levy would have generated $42.9 million in revenue. At a 0 per cent levy, AWI would have been wound up.

AWI had recommended that wool growers vote for a 2 per cent levy, and at the time when the poll was launched, said a 1.5 per cent levy would mean a “ significant cut in programs”.