- Woolgrowers voted for a 1.5 per cent levy rateinWoolPoll2018.
- This determines how much funding Australian Wool Innovation receive for the next three years.
- New levy expected to take effect from 1 July 2019.
Woolgrowers havevoted for a1.5 per cent levy rate on their gross wool sale proceeds to fundresearch and marketing services to the Australian wool industry.
Minister for Agriculture DavidLittleproudsaid this was the outcome of an independent process,WoolPoll2018,where growers decidedhow much funding AustralianWoolInnovation (AWI) wouldreceive for the next three years.
"Irespect and support woolgrowers democratic right to choose the levy rate they wish to devote to research and marketing,"MinisterLittleproudsaid.
"WoolPoll2018 was growers' opportunity to choose how much funding AWI will receive for the next three years.
"It is now uptoAWI to work withtheirallocatedbudget and deliver thebest possibleresearch and marketing services totakethe Australian wool industryforward.
"Link Market ServicesconductedWoolPoll2018completely independent of government, and undertookits own due diligence and verification.
"TheWoolPollPanelissatisfied with the process.
"I am yet to receive AWI's formal submission,but expect to change the regulationsto enablethe 1.5 per cent levy rateto take effect from 1 July 2019."
Fast facts
- Under its enabling legislation, the Wool ServicesPrivatisationAct 2000,AWIis required to conduct an independent poll of levy payers every three years.
- AWI, in accordance with the Wool ServicesPrivatisation(Wool Levy Poll) Regulations 2003, engaged Link Market Services to manage theWoolPoll2018 vote.
- AWI and Link Market Services have advised that 13,506 valid voting papers were cast, representing 28.67per cent of eligible levy payers (47,107).
- The returned voting papers represented 55.92 per cent of total available voting entitlements.
