FED: Uncertainty for wool industry NSW farmers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-1998
FED: Uncertainty for wool industry NSW farmers

SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP - The Australian wool industry was likely to face up to 12 months of
uncertainty following the ousting of its research and promotional arm, the New South Wales
Farmers Association said today.

Agriculture Minister Mark Vaile today announced a taskforce to investigate better ways to
sell Australian wool after the board of the wool marketing body, the Australian Wool Research
and Promotion (AWRAP) organisation, was dumped.

The dramatic move was decided in a vote of no confidence in the AWRAP board of at an angry
annual meeting in Goulburn yesterday.

Announcing the interim arrangements, Mr Vaile said he had been advised that 74 per cent of
registered wool taxpayers supported the no confidence motion.

NSW Farmers spokesman Mick Keogh today expressed concerns that the interim structure would
not have the capacity to establish permanent initiatives to remedy the situation.

"Were clearly left with a period of uncertainty, not an ideal situation," Mr Keogh told
AAP.

"However, uncertainty was always going to arise from yesterdays meeting."

He said about 250 growers had arrived at Goulburn Soldiers Club to voice concerns about
AWRAPs effectiveness.

He said they had been specifically worried about the bodys competitiveness against its
counterparts from the cotton and manmade fibre sectors.

AAP jk/sb/was/kr

KEYWORD: WOOL AWRAP KEOGH

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