Woolgrowers support 2% at WoolPoll

11 Nov '09

2 min read

Two per cent is the levy option preferred by Australian woolgrowers at WoolPoll 2009.

The voluntary poll of wool levy payers sets the future level of wool levy to be paid by growers towards marketing, research and development from July 2010.

Voters were invited to select their preferred levy option from 0, 1, 2, 2.5 and 3 per cent, with a preferential system deciding the most popular option.

The results have been independently certified by Link Market Services Limited.

In announcing the results today, Australian Wool Innovation Chairman Wal Merriman said he was very pleased that 73.13 per cent of votes cast were in favour of a levy of 2 per cent or more. This result was from 53.70 per cent of votes cast, and an increase in votes cast from WoolPoll 2006.

Mr Merriman thanked the nation's woolgrowers for backing a new plan to re-ignite demand for the fibre whilst exploring research and development opportunities on and off-farm.

'We have changed the way we do business with a greater emphasis on cost control and results-driven marketing and R&D, it is now time to get on with that business. Australian woolgrowers have spoken and have allowed us to continue our new momentum to sell more wool and its attributes, to reignite global demand for the world's best natural fibre.'

Mr Merriman also thanked the independent WoolPoll panel and its chair Will Roberts for overseeing Woolpoll 2009.

'WoolPoll is an independent democratic process. Given wool prices have not been as high as many would like and a level of apathy towards wool, it has been a significant achievement to engage this many woolgrowers in the process,' he said.

In the supplementary question, voters indicated their support for WoolPoll to continue to be undertaken every three years.

Mr Roberts said he was pleased with the participation rate of WoolPoll 2009 and thanked growers for taking part, and his own panel members for their time and experience in running the poll independently.

In an overview of the poll results, Mr Roberts said:

32.65 per cent of voting papers were returned.
53.70 per cent of available votes were cast.
64.98 per cent of these favoured 2 per cent.

Australian Wool Innovation

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