THE campaign to decide the levy woolgrowers will pay to fund the industry’s research, development and marketing body Australian Wool Innovation and its programs for the next three years will be launched in Melbourne on August 28.

Australian Wool Innovation and the WoolPoll 2015 panel will launch the most recent campaign to decide the amount of the wool levy at a Rural Press Club of Victoria luncheon at CQ Functions at 113 Queen St at 12.30-2pm.

Wool growers will be given five options to vote on in September to decide how much they want to invest in their industry’s research and development. Wool growers currently pay a two per cent levy to AWI, with 40 percent spent on research and development and 60pc on marketing

Australian Wool Innovation CEO Stuart McCullough will launch the ballot, with WoolPoll 2015 panel chairman and Queensland woolgrower Will Roberts attending to also speak about the grower-driven process.

The cost to attend the WoolPoll 2015 luncheon is $55 for RPCV and student members, and $65 for non-members.

Shortly after the launch, woolgrowers will receive their voting papers. WoolPoll 2015 voting opens on September 14 and closes on October 30 this year. A roadshow for growers across Australia is also being organised.

The poll gives levy payers the chance to set the rate of wool levy they will pay for the following three years, by voting for their preferred levy rate option. Under the regulations three to five options must be presented to levy payers, including a zero rate. The levy rate that receives the most votes is then recommended to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and reflected in relevant primary industries excise legislation. The poll also asks levy payers to endorse the strategic direction of AWI’s investments.

The outcome of the WoolPoll – the levy rate and the proportion of funds to be spent on research, development and marketing – is also used to negotiate a new Statutory Funding Agreement with the Federal Government, which governs AWI’s expenditure and operations for the next three-year period.

The outcome of the poll also forms the basis of AWI’s Strategic Plan, which outlines the key investment priorities and activities for the next three years. The plan is based on woolgrower and government priorities for expenditure, which AWI seeks through a robust consultation process during development of the plan.