IT'S the structure at Australian Wool Innovation – not the people – which have been behind its chequered and volatile past, Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke said today.
Responding to news of the departure from AWI by its chief executive officer, Brenda McGahan, Mr Burke said he will wait until the outcome of a Productivity Commission review before he makes any changes at AWI.
Last year Mr Burke announced rural research and development corporations would be investigated to determine where efficiencies could be found, duplication eliminated, and to ensure levy and tax payers received value for money.
He singled out AWI last year for being "too agri-political".
Mr Burke said while some may see the resignation of Ms McGahan as an opportunity to step-in at AWI, he would be reluctant to intervene before the Productivity Commission handed down its findings.
He said he'd always had a "good regard" for the individuals involved at AWI, and believes its problems are not its people but its structure.
"AWI was always meant to be about research and development for farmers, not an agri-political playground," he said.
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