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Calls for AWI to “come clean” over legal action and Apologise.
“Australian Wool Innovation is duty bound to ‘come clean’ over their hasty legal action and apologise to the wool industry for their non consultative approach” says Australian Wool Growers Association Chairman Chick Olsson.
”Widely reported pending legal action against the international animal activist organisation PETA, announced last week by the wool industry’s R&D body, AWI, has further divided the wool industry’ says AWGA Chairman Chick Olsson.
Despite written requests from organisations such as the Australian Wool Growers Association seeking detailed explanation for the rationale and risk assessment of such an action, AWI has been silent in their response.
Despite pleads from our international customers, manufacturers and retailers to tread softly, AWI have ignored these concerns.
Despite calls for industry unity, including a national wool roundtable conducted last week, where participants were not consulted nor even privy to such action by AWI. Despite claims to the contrary, the agenda failed to mention any legal action and minutes, although requested have not been kept or provided.
Indeed the Australian Wool Growers Association has since learnt that not even all the current directors of AWI were informed or consulted on this action.
”So much for industry unity and consultation” says AWGA Chairman Chick Olsson.
”The reality is that at some point in time woolgrowers right across the spectrum are going to have to pay some significant legal bills, win or lose”. Says Mr Olsson
Australian Wool Innovation is duty bound to “come clean” over their action and apologise to the wool industry’s international customers, wool leaders, grassroots growers, and marketing organisations such as Woolmark for their lack of consultation.
”If the current management fails to apologise for their arrogance and divisiveness, then on behalf of the industry, in consideration of our international markets, AWGA will have no option but to apologise to the world for AWI’s actions on their behalf” concludes Mr Olsson.
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