INFLUENTIAL grower group, the Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders, is demanding the board of Australian Wool Innovation "do its duty" and get on with the job.
Reacting to the recent turmoil that has seen chief executive officer Brenda McGahan resign citing dissent within the board, AASMB president Tom Ashby has called on the directors to pull together and lead the industry.
"We’d encourage the chairman to come forward, disclose what’s going on and outline how it is being addressed. AWI must get on with what it is there to do – that is, look after grower interests," Mr Ashby says.
"The board has a responsibility to growers, and if they are not prepared to oversee the execution of the clear mandate given by growers at the last AWI AGM and through the WoolPoll process, then they should be asking themselves if they are the right person to accept such responsibility."
Mr Ashby warns that if the dissent continues, the fear is that government will launch an investigation into the organisation’s corporate governance.
"If that occurs, wool growers risk losing their voice, we risk returning to government appointed boards that have no knowledge of the wool industry."
