Initiatives to support wool industry outlined

23/6/98

The Coalition Government is committed to providing new opportunities for the Western Australian wool industry, Primary Industry Minister Monty House said.

Speaking in Parliament today, Mr House outlined initiatives which would support the State's 9,000 wool growers.

He said that wool was WA's second largest agricultural export industry, generating export earnings of $643 million in 1996-97 and it was important to provide assistance and direction to it.

Agriculture WA's Wool Program and the WA Wool Strategy Group were strategic partners working together with industry to develop and market this State's wool industry.

"The WA Wool Strategy Group, established in 1993, focuses attention on wool quality and the establishment of strong linkages with the Indian wool textiles industry," the Minister said.

"Representatives of the WA Strategy Group will be attending a meeting of the International Wool Textiles organisation in Dresden, Germany and the 'India Wool Meet' textile seminar in New Delhi.

"As a result of the efforts of the Wool Strategy Group, the Esperance Wool Exporters, The Australian Merino Society and the Darkan Wool Marketing Group have all supplied wool consignments direct to Indian processing mills and to other international customers."

An education program with the Indian Woollen Mills Federation to train Indian university students and staff in wool production and processing, has been initiated by the Minister as an investment in the future buyers and processors of WA wool.

Other Government assistance includes:

·      the relocation of a woolscouring plant to the East Rockingham precinct. It is anticipated that a top maker to support the early stage of wool processing can be encouraged;

·      Agriculture WA's Woolpro program which is currently being undertaken on 100 focus farms;

·      research into new pasture varieties to increase production;

·      processing research into performance of WA wool;

·      the Wool Service Desk in Fremantle is developing closer links with local and international trade; and -

·      trade missions to identify new trade opportunities for wool.

"One of the Government's commitments to the agricultural sector is to ensure the promotion of WA wool as a quality and differentiated product from other suppliers in the international market place," the Minister said.

Media contact: Julie Cole (08) 9481 2044