AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation (AWI) has launched the 2015 WoolPoll with an appeal to woolgrowers to vote for a two per cent levy to continue.
AWI chief executive Stuart McCullough pointed to the a Review of Performance (RoP) conducted by Deloitte Private that found every dollar invested by AWI in the past three years has delivered a $2.90 return to woolgrowers.
Mr McCullough announced the RoP results at today’s launch of WoolPoll 2015 at a Rural Press Club event in Melbourne.
He urged growers to vote to maintain the 2pc wool levy to be spent on research, development and marketing to ensure value for levy-payers continued, through improved productivity, increased market demand, increased wool prices and cost savings – as the RoP showed.
With growers to vote to set the levy for the next three years, he appealed to them to consider the federal government’s co-contribution, saying it was maximised for matching R&D at the current 2pc levy rate.
WoolPoll 2015 panel chairman Will Roberts said the recent Senate inquiry into agricultural levies said best practice levy model was underpinned by the ability for growers to influence; accountability; and transparency.
“We are one of the few industries where every levy payer is provided the regular opportunity to directly influence the levy rate,” Mr Roberts said.
Twenty three WoolPoll workshops will be held throughout the country during the voting period so woolgrowers can speak to AWI and WoolPoll Panel representatives
All eligible levy payers – those who have paid a least $100 worth of wool levies in the past three years – will soon receive details on eligibility and voting and can cast their vote from Monday, September 14 until Friday, October 30.