The Wool Board is being accused of trying to influence the Inquiry which is currently underway to determine the future of the Wool Industry.

Concern is being raised by ACT that the inquiry process, which began with promise and a firm commitment from the monopoly Wool Board that it would not interfere and accept the outcome the inquiry produced, is now being controlled by those intent on protecting the status quo.

ACT Rural Spokesman Owen Jennings said the take-over of the inquiry process has come just when the Wool Industry is poised to shake off its debilitating political dominance and concentrate fully on commercial solutions.

“Wool growers, anxiously looking to the Inquiry for some positive options to restore profitability, will be angry that the independence of the Inquiry has been compromised. Only a very determined stand by the Chairman of the Independent Stakeholders Group, Mr Ian Farrant, will prevent continued Wool Board meddling,” said Owen Jennings.

Owen Jennings is calling on Ian Farrant to warn the Wool Board about the tactics being used to influence the inquiry. “It’s now clear that unless Mr Farrant can regain control of the process the industry is going to continue down its road of failure, unaccountable expenditure, lack of market focus, and poor prices,” he said.

“The Wool Board has had decades of time and billions in wool grower levies to make a positive difference and has failed dramatically. They should butt out and leave it to others to determine the future,” he said.

Owen Jennings said that if the industry is to make progress from its failing situation the Inquiry must have integrity and be free from back room capture by self interest groups.

ENDS

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