WoolProducers Australia (WoolProducers) are encouraging all eligible wool levy payers to take the time to make their voice heard in this year’s WoolPoll. WoolProducers are not making a recommendation on any specific levy rate in this year's WoolPoll.
WoolProducers President, Mr Steve Harrison said, “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.”
“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.”
Voting for this year’s WoolPoll opens on 20 September and closes on 1 November, 2024.
“The important thing for woolgrowers to do is turn up and vote. We’ve seen a decline in the number of eligible voters participating in recent WoolPolls and with the industry facing many external pressures at the moment the last thing we can afford is grower apathy to be a determining factor in the outcome.” Mr Harrison said.
Eligible wool levy payers, being those who have paid more than $100 in compulsory levies over the past three years, will have a choice of four levy rates to choose from: 0%; 1%; 1.5% and 2%.
WoolProducers are also reminding levy payers to exercise their preferences to really make their vote count.
Mr Harrison said, “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.”
WoolPoll is a triennial vote undertaken by eligible woolgrowers to determine the amount of their wool cheque that goes towards research, development and marketing which is administered by AWI.
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WoolProducers Australia contacts:
Jo Hall Steve Harrison
CEO President
0488 554 811 0427 468 303
About WoolProducers’ Australia
WoolProducers plays a critical role in working closely with companies and entities funded by woolgrower funds including compulsory levies or fees for service.
Its mission is to develop constructive and profitable outcomes for woolgrowers nationally.
The agency is responsible for appointing a director to each of the Australian Wool Exchange and the Australia Wool Testing Authority, promoting good corporate governance and ensuring that the interests of growers are met.
WoolProducers maintains a working relationship with Australian Wool Innovation as the voice of woolgrower shareholders. It aims to contribute to AWI’s programs for the benefit of growers, promoting responsible use of levy funds and ensuring good corporate governance.
WoolProducers is the sole wool industry member of Animal Health Australia, and as such, carries a significant responsibility for decision making on behalf of the industry in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak.
As the only wool grower organisation with membership of the National Farmers’ Federation, WoolProducers is responsible for providing key policy advice on behalf of our members, and other wool growers, to Australia’s peak farm body.
WoolProducers also works closely with the Federal Government Departments on key issues such as animal health and welfare, biosecurity, pest management control, natural resource management, drought preparedness, emergency animal disease outbreak preparedness and industry development, including research, trade and logistics.
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