WoolProducers Australia continues to call for a wool trade policy office despite lack of government appetite

Australian woolgrowers are ramping up calls for the Federal Government to set up a wool trade policy office in Australia with staff in Vietnam and India in a bid to mitigate trade risks. The three-year program would focus on market expansion and diversification in the two key emerging markets — managed by a domestically based trade policy manager. WoolProducers Australia has pushed hard for the office after it was recommended in a commissioned Deloitte report in 2024 but the proposal has failed to attract government support. WoolProducers chief executive Jo Hall said the establishment of a wool trade policy office would deliver trade risk mitigation to Australian woolgrowers, increase pre-export value capture, create jobs and increase GDP. “Prices, seasonal conditions and a volatile policy environment are placing extreme pressure on Australian woolgrowers,” she said. “I sincerely hope that the government does not overlook this opportunity to support the future prosperity of our industry and strengthen the Australian economy.” The concept was disclosed as part of a WoolProducers industry action plan, designed to reduce export risk to Australian wool producers. The action plan originally noted a completion target for the office as 2024. Ms Hall said the initial target was working on the assumption government would be onside to help deliver the project, the ideal outcome to ensure momentum with emerging trading partners was not lost. “We strongly believe that the relationships that we have fostered with the Vietnamese, Indian and Bangladeshi textile sectors would still be greatly enhanced by the establishment of this office,” she said. The office will be modelled on the current AusHub activities in Vietnam — currently funded by Wool Works NZ after Australia Government funding ceased in 2024. It is also designed to support other ongoing Government strategies such as the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. Ms Hall said diversification of trade of 50 per cent of Australia’s wool production could deliver up to $1.1 billion in trade risk mitigation. She said the current work of WoolProducers — including AusHub and the “highly successful” Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation — must continue to be supported by trade policy activities, and soon, to ensure “de-risking outcomes” are reached. “Trade policy development is not currently undertaken in any consistent manner within the Australian wool industry, urgent government investment is required to ensure that this de-risking potential can be realised and the significant momentum that has been achieved over the past 30-months is not lost,” she said. WoolProducers continue to advocate for the office to the Federal Government through pre-budget submissions and meetings with both ministers for trade and agriculture, other MPs and relevant departmental officials. It is also a key ask in its Federal Election platform for the current election, set for May 3. “Unfortunately we have not had the required support for this to come to fruition, which is extremely disappointing particularly given that it is a modest ask that would deliver tangible outcomes as has been demonstrated with out Vietnamese position,” Ms Hall said. “At a time when the Australian wool industry has taken a significant hit from poor government policy, particularly from the live sheep export ban, this is an ideal opportunity for the Australian government, regardless of which side of politics they are from, to get in and support our proud industry.”