Investing in industry R&D and marketing
WoolPoll will be held later this year. It is woolgrowers’ opportunity to have their say on the level of collective investment in research, development (R&D) and marketing to take advantage of the opportunities and address the threats faced by the Australian wool industry.
Established by the Australian Government in 2001, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) is the research, development (R&D) and marketing organisation for the Australian wool industry. AWI invests along the global supply chain for Australian wool – from woolgrowers through to retailers.
AWI’s marketing arm is The Woolmark Company, so woolgrowers own one of the world’s most recognised and trusted fashion logos which is celebrating its 60th birthday this year.
AWI investments are funded primarily through a wool levy paid by Australian woolgrowers.
“WoolPoll 2024 is extremely important for all woolgrowers as it gives them the opportunity to have their say on how much levy they pay to AWI to invest in research, development and marketing.”
- Rich Keniry, WoolPoll Panel Chair
What is WoolPoll?
WoolPoll is a poll of eligible wool levy payers, conducted every three years, to determine the levy rate paid to AWI for industry R&D and marketing. Currently the levy rate is 1.5% (of the sale price woolgrowers receive for their shorn greasy wool).
At WoolPoll, eligible woolgrowers are asked to consider up to five levy rate options. They can vote for one or more levy rates in order of preference.
The levy rate that receives the highest number of votes will be paid by all woolgrowers for the next three years (2025/26 – 2027/28). The levy rate takes effect from 1 July 2025.
Why vote?
WoolPoll is the opportunity for levy payers to directly influence how much funding AWI will receive to deliver R&D and marketing services for the Australian wool industry.
Who can vote?
If you have paid $100 or more in wool levies over the previous three financial years, you will be eligible to vote in WoolPoll. For each $100 of levy paid, you are entitled to one vote.
Your voting entitlement is determined from records of your wool sales. You will be notified of your voting entitlement in August. If you believe your voting entitlement has been miscalculated, you will be able to contact a voter assistance hotline; the cut-off date for this will be 6 September.
When is WoolPoll?
September: Eligible wool levy payers will receive their voting papers and a Voter Information Memorandum containing details about how AWI proposes to invest the levy funds at each of the levy rate options and AWI’s recommendation.
Monday 20 September: Voting opens. Voting will be by mail, fax or online – as per the instructions that will be sent with the voting papers.
Friday 1 November: Voting closes at 5pm (AEDT).
Friday 15 November: The WoolPoll result will be announced at AWI’s Annual General Meeting. The levy rate takes effect from 1 July 2025.
More information: www.wool.com/woolpoll
CHECK your contact details are up to date
You are advised to check now that your contact details held by AWI are correct and up to date. This will ensure you receive your WoolPoll voting entitlement letter, voting papers and Voter Information Memorandum.
“Voting this year will be available online and via mail, so I encourage everyone to make sure their contact details are correct and up to date so you receive the Voter Information Memorandum which will outline what the different levy rates will allow AWI to work on.”
- Rich Keniry, WoolPoll Panel Chair
You should inform AWI if your contact details (name, postal address, email address or phone number) are incorrect or have changed. You can contact AWI on (02) 8295 3100 or feedback@wool.com.
Alternatively, if you have received this Beyond the Bale magazine as a paper copy in the post, you can also use the ‘Update contact details form’ on the address sheet that accompanied the magazine.
Wool levy payers are advised to inform AWI about any contact detail changes ASAP, to ensure that correspondence about WoolPoll is sent to the correct email and/or postal address.
The WoolPoll vote later this year enables Australian woolgrowers to determine the wool levy percentage rate paid to AWI for the industry’s R&D and marketing. To ensure you receive your WoolPoll-related correspondence and voting papers, inform AWI now if your contact details need updating.
2024 WoolPoll Panel
Under the Wool Services Privatisation (Wool Levy Poll) Regulations 2003, AWI must form an industry panel, known as the WoolPoll Panel, comprising eligible levy payer representatives. The role of the WoolPoll Panel is to confirm that the draft forms and the process for conducting the WoolPoll ballot have been examined and assessed as appropriate. Its role is not to tell woolgrowers what rate to support.
The members of the 2024 WoolPoll Panel are:
- Rich Keniry (Cumnock, NSW), Panel Chair
- Alexander Lewis (Redesdale, Vic)
- Marcus Sounness (Amelup, WA)
- Dr Luke Rapley (Ross, Tas)
- Tom Moxham (Nyngan, NSW)
- Chris Kemp (Merriwa, NSW)
- Di Martin (Baratta, SA)
- David Young (Bookham, NSW)
- Jo Harris, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
- Neil Jackson, AWI Board member.
The membership of the WoolPoll Panel was selected by the WoolPoll Panel Selection Committee, from 11 nominations provided by Woolgrower Industry Consultation Panel (WICP) representatives. The WoolPoll Panel Selection Committee comprised Nick Turner, WICP Independent Chair; Paul Maisey, DAFF; and Neil Jackson, AWI Board Director.
The composition of the WoolPoll Panel was selected to be reflective of the diversity of levy payers. Importance was placed on the nominee’s production experience and industry engagement, as well as ensuring representation across varying wool sectors, diverse production systems and different geographic areas.
At the WoolPoll Panel’s first meeting, on 23 February, the Panel elected Rich Keniry as the Panel Chair.
This article appeared in the June 2024 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.
