Australian Wool Innovation recommends growers vote for an increased 2 per cent levy option in WoolPoll

The Australian Wool Innovation board of directors is recommending an increased 2 per cent levy voting option at the upcoming WoolPoll after extensive engagement nationwide with woolgrowers. AWI chair on Jock Laurie said WoolPoll would be an opportunity for growers to have their say on the level of funding for their grower owned research, development, and marketing company. “The Voter Information Memorandum sent to eligible growers shows the very different revenue and expenditure options covered by 0,1, 1.5 and 2 per cent and the projects that are possible as a result,” he said. “A vote for 1.5 per cent levy (current levy tax) is a vote for a significant cut in programs.” When the memorandum was approved in July, it showed a $10 million reduction in spending next financial year with a 1.5 per cent levy. Since then, lower forecasts in production and in the Eastern Market Indicator meant that AWI project spending would drop even further. Mr Lauire said the levy was considered a collective investment in the future of the industry and it was up to growers to choose their levy. Voting packs would be sent to nearly 40,000 growers who paid more than $100 in wool levy over the previous three years. The vote on the levy is held every three years. Voting allocations are based on how much wool is sold during that period. Voting opens on September 20 and closes at 5pm AESDT on November 1. The result of WoolPoll will be announced at the AWI Annual General Meeting on November 15. WoolProducers Australia president Steve Harrison said the woolgrower organisation that he represented would not be making a recommendation on any specific levy rate in this year’s WoolPoll. “The WoolProducers board considered the information in this year’s Voter Information Memorandum compiled by the WoolPoll Panel and determined that in light of the current mood in the industry at present, that it was best not to make a levy recommendation,” he said. “We know that woolgrowers 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.” “The important thing for woolgrowers to do is turn up and vote.” Mr Harrison said there had been a decline in the number of eligible voters taking part in recent WoolPolls and with the industry facing many external pressures. “The last thing we can afford is grower apathy to be a determining factor in the outcome,” he said. Mr Harrison said his organisation aimed to remind levy payers to exercise their preferences to really make their vote count. “The voting system for WoolPoll is an optional preferential system, meaning that levy payers are recommended to put a “one” in their preferred levy rate option and then put the numbers two through to four, in the other levy rate boxes in your chosen order”. “It is very important to do this to ensure that your vote doesn’t expire if the ballot goes to preferences like it did in 2018. This will ensure that your vote has the most impact.” To find out more, visit wool.com/woolpoll.