AUSTRALIAN woolgrowers have voted to maintain the two per cent levy on wool sales to fund research, development and marketing for the next three years.
The result was announced at the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) annual general meeting in Sydney today.
AWI chief executive officer Stuart McCullough thanked woolgrowers for participating and showing faith in AWI.
"We take the responsibility of investing growers’ levies very seriously, so we are heartened the level of support for the 2pc levy rate increased this year," he said.
"WoolPoll is a transparent and fair way for woolgrowers to decide our future funding and the opportunity to vote zero is an option the AWI board is pleased must always be offered.
“We will continue to measure the performance of all aspects of AWI but we must explore new, innovative ways to make wool growing easier and more profitable. We must also educate more designers and brands to use wool and in turn more consumers around the world to wear wool.”
As in previous polls, eligible levy payers were invited to select their preferred levy option from 0, 1, 2, 2.5 and 3 per cent.
Results showed just over 67pc of growers who voted supported a 2pc levy or above - an increase on 60pc voting for 2pc or more at the last WoolPoll in 2012.
The levy options available to woolgrowers were slammed by WoolProducers Australia and the Australian Wool Growers Association
They were united in their criticism of AWI's decision to leave out a 1.5pc levy option.
WPA senior vice president and NSW Farmers wool committee chairman, Ed Storey, Yass, NSW, claimed the exclusion of an incremental levy decrease was a deliberate move from AWI to ensure the levy was not lowered from 2pc.
