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AWGA calls for Fletcher to run wool industry

11 Sep, 2008 06:13 PM
It has been suggested that Australia's biggest lamb meat processor, Roger Fletcher, accept nomination as the wool industry's next leader.

Mr Fletcher was not discussing whether he would accept the nomination as chairman of Australian Wool Innovation this week but has repeatedly said big changes needed to be made to make wool viable again.

"We need to turn this around very quickly and I can see it happening as long as we get on with the job and sell wool as an upmarket product and not as a commodity," he said.

The call for Fletcher to run AWI comes from the Australian Wool Growers Association (AWGA) and follows continued bitter disunity amongst the board.

AWGA chair Martin Oppenheimer said the wool industry and the confidence of the growers it relied on was at a turning point.

"We need a united effort and a united AWI board to build demand and confidence for wool," Mr Oppenheimer said.

"Roger Fletcher is the person who can do that.

"The decline in the Australian wool production must stop."

WoolProducers Australia executive director Greg Weller poured cold water on the call.

"This industry needs stability and good corporate governance," Mr Weller said.

"We have a brand new marketing program that AWGA supports. Why has this call come from out of left field?

"This group needs to be reminded that the position of chairman is a decision made by the directors and not woolgrower shareholders.

"Woolgrowers decide on who should direct the company, not who should lead the company."

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Interesting that Oppenheimer is always talking about a united effort or uniting the wool industry while he continually throws wool industry hand grenades.

It's about time Martin and Chick did us a favour and started to work as hard for the industry as against it.

I agree with Mr Weller good corporate governance and directors with the appropriate skillset is what's needed.

Unfortunately, none of the people supported by AWGA in the upcoming AWI election have those skillsets.

Come on, Chick, do woolgrowers a favour - resign. Then perhaps van Rooyen can have confidence back in the board room.

Posted by bullant, 11/09/2008 1:42:11 PM
So let me get this straight. AWGA want to breach Corporations Law and attempt to improperly influence an independent Company Board? Martin, hope you have got that apology pen ready again!
Posted by Sir George, 11/09/2008 2:01:21 PM
And another thing. How is it Van Rooyen's fault that the AWGA members of the board are treacherous and have no understanding of confidentiality? It is the AWGA stooges that are crippling the Board. All they need now is Col Dorber back!
Posted by Sir George, 11/09/2008 2:16:26 PM
The problem is Brian van Rooyen may have broken every governance rule in the book by carrying out unsanctioned research. He must produce the permits or AWI board members could be heavily fined and even face jail sentences. A board cannot function unless it is appraised of ALL the facts. So there.
Posted by Mabel Peyton Smyth , 12/09/2008 7:04:27 AM
Agripolitics and serious marketing and research have been shown to be incompatible in the case of AWI. The wool and grain industries are running neck and neck for logies in the art of self-destruction. The criteria for Board membership, apart from integrity (which should go without saying), are fitness for purpose and competence. With few exceptions this cannot be said with regard to current manouvres affecting AWI.
Posted by observer, 12/09/2008 9:24:22 AM
"We need to turn this around very quickly and I can see it happening as long as we get on with the job and sell wool as an upmarket product and not as a commodity," he (Roger Fletcher) said.

This is absolutely true. Wool has been wiped out by people who failed to understand this. It appeared that all those people who had a university education saw wool as a generic commodity. They showed not the slightest comprehension that wool is a niche product. They never even acknowledged the huge success that was achieved in marketing wool in the second half of the 1980s. For some queer reason their belief seems to be that success is inevitably followed by a bust. We should hope that Roger Fletcher could find the time to chair AWI. He is the man with the record for success.

Those who have dominated the board of AWI in the past are part of the team which took Australia's trade in wool from 750 million kg to less than 400 kg a year. Add to that the debacle of the PETA lawsuit, which AWI is still trying to put a positive spin on. That lawsuit brought our sworn enemies into the management of our industry.

Posted by Ted O'Brien, 12/09/2008 10:56:28 AM
Corperates, men in suits trying to get this industry together and bitter rivalries, where does the money all go when you see shearers and staff on huge properties still working in third world conditions? Come on, let's work together for this great industry.
Posted by marc, 17/09/2008 11:43:52 AM

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Roger Fletcher. Image source: Sheep CRC
Roger Fletcher. Image source: Sheep CRC
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