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Alleged claims of “Vested Interests” are unfounded and unhelpful says AWGA
The Australian Wool Growers Association has today angrily refuted claims that members of a delegation currently in New York have an alleged vested interest.
Will Crozier, Board Member of the Australian Wool Growers Association,
AWGA, says” These smear campaigns seeking to denigrate individuals
are unwarranted”.
”At a time when woolgrowers Australia wide are seeking an end to
the crisis surrounding the practise of mulesing, these personal attack
on individuals seeking to bring about resolution, are indicative of the
mishandling of the situation by the industry leadership” says Mr
Crozier.
Headed by the Chairman of AWGA, Mr Chick Olsson, a delegation including a small team of skilled Australian negotiators, senior Australian veterinarians are currently in New York meeting The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA hopeful of a long awaited breakthrough in the crippling boycott dispute.
The delegation will present results of the recently announced pain relief treatment, which is currently seeking registration, a treatment which has been openly supported by all industry including the Sheep and Wool Taskforce, The Australian Veterinary Association and Animal Liberation Australia.
”It should be noted that the Australian Wool Growers Association, developers of this pain relief treatment have sought on several occasions to bring this development before the management of Australian Wool Innovation only to have their efforts ignored”, says Mr Crozier.
Despite phone calls, letters, emails and two meeting in Sydney, AWI have ignored all offers of involvement with this potential breakthrough product.
AWGA applauds the individuals who, despite the blatant refusal by the AWI’s CEO Len Stephens to even consider pain relief as an option, have invested in the research and development of this new product without the benefit of any industry funds at all.
”For the Chairman of Wool Producers, now to suggest ‘vested interest’ is an absolute disgrace, when the whole industry has the hope of an positive outcome”.
“The reality is every woolgrower in Australia has an interest in
these negotiations and the industry should be thankful to those individuals
who were prepared to risk their own financial resources at a time when
AWI has let them down badly”, says Mr Crozier.
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