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Apology
On 4 March 2008 a press release written by Martin Oppenheimer, the Chairman of the Australian Wool Growers Association Ltd, was published on this website about Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI’s) then Chairman, Mr Ian McLachlan AO. Certain statements made in that press release were subsequently repeated by Martin Oppenheimer, during an interview with Catherine Clifford which was broadcast via radio on ABC South Western Victoria during the Vic Country Hour program with Sally Price on 4 March 2008.
Mr Oppenheimer wishes to clarify and correct certain statements and suggestions
in the press release and radio interview.
Mr Oppenheimer acknowledges that Mr McLachlan has no financial interest
in the mulesing clip technology and that he and the other inventor of
the clips assigned all of their rights in relation to the clips to AWI
in 2005 without seeking or receiving any payment or consideration.
Mr Oppenheimer accordingly withdraws and acknowledges as incorrect any
suggestion in the press release that Mr McLachlan had a financial interest
in the muelsing clips resulting in a conflict of interest and causing
AWI to fight pain relief or to fail to support pain relief in breach of
a commitment to US retailers. Mr Oppenheimer also withdraws any suggestion
that Mr McLachlan has acted improperly by participating in the decision
by AWI to allocate funding towards mulesing clips.
Mr Oppenheimer acknowledges that Mr McLachlan supports a range of possible
long-term solutions designed to eliminate the need for mulesing altogether,
and supports the use of pain relief as an interim solution to the issue
of mulesing in the meantime.
Mr Oppenheimer apologises to Mr McLachlan and wishes Mr McLachlan well
for his retirement after many years of service to Australian agriculture
and the wool industry.
Martin Oppenheimer
Chairman AWGA
02 6777 2124
0413 580 040
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