Proposed changes to Australia's wool selling system have been met with resistance from wool buyers and exporters. It is being discussed as government-and-grower-funded body Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) embarks on a restructure. Long-term AWI staff, including Jimmy Jackson and Rob Langtry, will leave the corporation in the middle of the year.

Review of the wool selling system began by AWI more than a year ago and considered dozens of submissions from wool growers and buyers. It says the aim is to modernise the system and reduce costs to wool growers, while also increasing transparency. AWI is consulting industry about the changes, and said it would bring together a panel of experts by May to drive the digital transformation. Further, a business case will be delivered to the AWI board by November 2016.

According to a wool buyer, Chris Kelly, from the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers said more than 90 per cent of buyers were against change. He said the current open-cry auction was already modern and based on pre-sale wool testing. Wool buyers and growers are also raising concerns about the loss of highly experienced wool industry stalwarts at AWI.