The Australian Wool Commission was established on 4 November 1970 under the Australian Wool Commission Act 1970 to operate a flexible reserve price scheme for wool sold at auction and to perform a number of other functions aimed at improving the marketing of Australian wool.  

The Commission consisted of seven members: a Chairman (W.J.Vines, C.M.G.); two members to represent Australia woolgrowers (D.J.Asimus and R.V. Sewell O.B.E.); and three other members with special qualifications in the fields of wool marketing or wool products, commerce finance or economics (S.S.Nevile, K.D. Williams and L.J. Yeo, who was also Deputy Chairman). (1)
 
Mr W.J. Vines was appointed as a part-time Interim Chairman on 19 November 1970 but appears to have remained for the life of the Commission. The Chairman was to have a full-time member of the Commission appointed by the Minister after consultation with the Australia Wool Board. The Act provided for the Chairman to
automatically became a member of the Wool Board to ensure close liaison between the Board and the Commission.
 
All other members of the Commission were to serve on a part-time basis and were appointed for three years. The two woolgrowers' representatives were appointed after consultations with the Australian Wool Industry Conference. The three members with special
qualifications were appointed after consultation with the Wool Board [III] (CA 865).
 
Apart from operating a flexible reserve price scheme for wool, the Commission was empowered to take over the functions of the
Australian Wool Marketing Corporation Pty Ltd, which included the formulation of standards of clip preparation for wool sold at auction or otherwise and the making of arrangements to secure their observance; the elimination of small lots from sale at auction to the extent desirable; the operation of a Price Averaging Plan for wool from small lots; the payments of advances to growers whose wool was not included in the Price Averaging Plan; the operation of the wool Statistical Service; and the operation of a scheme for the voluntary registration of wool classers.
 
The Commission also had the following additional functions and powers:  

- To operate, when judged appropriate by the Commission, a
  voluntary pool for wool other than that in small lots (ie. for wool
  in lots exceeding three bales) and pay advances to owners of such
  wool.  

- To formulate the terms and conditions governing the sale of
  wool at auction and make arrangements for their adoption.
 
- To make arrangements concerning wool auction sale rosters and
  offerings and to pay advances to growers the sale of whose
  wool has been delayed because of the arrangements made by the     
  Commissions.
 
- To have power to sell wool outside the auction system or have
  wool processed before sale in cases where such wool cannot be sold 
  advantageously at auction.
 
- To encourage the progressive adoption of proven and practical     
  technological aids to more efficient wool marketing.
 
- To keep under review the operations of firms outside the auction
  system which purchase wool direct from growers and sell it to     
  local and overseas users, and obtain from these firms such
  information as the Minister for Primary Industry approves for
  this purpose.
 
- To make recommendations to the Government for suitable action
  to be taken if and when it can be clearly demonstrated that
  private buying and selling is having detrimental effects on wool
  marketing generally.
 
- With the approval of the Minister for Primary Industry, to
  participate in negotiations concerning charges associated with
  the marketing of wool, including freight rates.
 
- To co-operate with authorities and organisations in other
  countries in measures aimed at more efficient marketing of wool.  

- To co-operate with the Australian Wool Board and other authorities
  and organisations in regard to wool promotion and research, 
  including inquiries into methods of marketing wool.(2)
 
The working capital needed by the Commission was provided in the form of loans by the Commonwealth Government and by trading banks.  
Under the Act, the operating costs of the Commission were to be met jointly by woolgrowers and the Commonwealth Government.
 
The Commission ceased operations from 1 January 1973 when its functions were taken over by the Australian Wool Corporation (CA 2004).

References:
 
1. Commonwealth Gazette, No. 104, 19 November 1970 p. 7665;
   Commonwealth Directory, 1972, p 226
2. Official Year Book of Australia, 1971, pp 802-803 and 1973 
   pp 811-812.
Historical agency address
Wol House, 578 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Acts, No.103 of 1970, Australian Wool Commission Act 1970

Previous agency unregistered

Australian Wool Marketing Corporation Pty Ltd