Beyond the Bale - Issue 25 - Clear mandate delivered for two per cent levy
Australian woolgrowers have voted to keep the current levy rate of two per cent, for investment in research, development, innovation and product marketing by AWI.
Fifty thousand eligible Australian woolgrowers were given a choice through WoolPoll 2006 of five funding levels for levies. The results, issued by the WoolPoll 2006 Panel, saw 56 per cent of first preference votes cast in favour of a two per cent wool levy.
AWI Chairman Ian McLachlan says this is a clear result that will deliver returns for Australian woolgrowers into the future.
“I am very pleased with this result, and the number of woolgrowers who took part in WoolPoll 2006,” Mr McLachlan says. “This will provide over $21 million per year for on-farm research - into issues such as mulesing alternatives, shearing replacements, parasites and genetics - to continue productivity and efficiency gains for Australian woolgrowers.
“In the past 18 months we have directed more funds into the off-farm areas of product development and product marketing. This result will provide $35 million in the post-farm area to enable AWI to build upon the direct business relationships already established, and boost demand for Australian Merino wool.”
In this year’s WoolPoll growers were asked two supplementary questions regarding the application of the levy and the scope of AWI’s activities.
“When asked if the levy should apply to all wool, no matter how it is harvested, 90 per cent voted in favour,” Mr McLachlan says. “Regarding the Statutory Funding Agreement, eligible woolgrowers were asked if this should be amended to give AWI more flexibility to address emerging issues, as long as it is for the benefit of Australian woolgrowers: 80 per cent of votes were in favour of this also.
“I would like to thank Dr John Keniry and the WoolPoll panel for their work providing Australian woolgrowers with the information needed to make a decision on the level of investment for the next three years.”
AWI will make a recommendation to the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by 22 December 2006 that the Australian Government support the two per cent levy.
More information: www.woolpoll.com.au, 1800 209 118
AWI’s design partners (in bold, left to right) Akira Isogawa, Jayson Brunsdon, model Holly Caiulo, Lydia Pearson, Pamela Easton, model Xiya Xu, Peter Morrissey, model Tallulah Morton, Josh Goot and Tina Kalivas.
This striking image of AWI’s design partners provided the backdrop to the ‘Merino in Fashion’ panel discussion at AWI’s ‘Innovation in Fashion’ forum in Armidale. Over the past 12 months, AWI has been building relationships with Australia’s most recognised and successful fashion designers.
This is part of a long-term strategy to build alliances with designers globally to showcase Australian Merino wool at its most innovative and creative. These people are crucial in the apparel industry chain; it is they who bring fashion trends to life through vision and talent. They influence the decisions of retailers and consumers directly and indirectly; their importance is immeasurable as influencers and trendsetters.
Return to Beyond the Bale issue 25 index page.