1.Write to our government representatives expressing your concern over the closure of the CSIRO scour. You can write your own letter or use the template letter provided, adding to it or changing sections to suit yourself. We suggest you address correspondence to:-

Senator Kim Carr

Minister For Industry, Innovation, Science and Research,

Suite M1 48

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600.

Email:senator.carr@aph.gov.au

With copies to:-

cc.Tony Burke,

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,

Suite M1 26

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600.

Email:Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au

cc.Senator Bob Brown,

GPO Box 404,

Hobart,

Tasmania. 7001

Email:senator.bob.brown@aph.gov.au

cc.Your local members of parliament (both Federal and State)

2.Tell others about our cause and encourage them to write letters and lobby the relevant Ministers and politicians as well.</p>

3.Visit and contribute to our blog on the internet. http://natural-fibres.blog-city.com/

Template Letter

The template letter can be used or modified by individuals / companies, to voice their displeasure at the decision to close & dispose of the CSIRO scour.

Your name/ Company name

Address

Date

Senator Kim Carr

Minister For Industry, Innovation, Science and Research,

Suite M1 48

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600.

senator.carr@aph.gov.au

Dear Senator Carr,

We wish to voice our concerns regarding the proposed closure of the CSIRO Research scour situated at the CSIRO Belmont facility.

Research will be necessary to ensure that the emerging Raw and Natural Fibre Industries are given the opportunity to develop to their full potential and the wool industry remains viable. The CSIRO scour plays a vital role in the research of these textile fibres. “Clean and Green” is going to require the development of methods of lice & fly strike control that meet emerging standards. Research on residual levels after scouring is going to be an important. With no research scour how can this occur?

Many of the producers within the Rare and Natural Fibre Industries (this includes fine wools) value add to their own fibre. The CSIRO scour is the only scour within Australia that will accept small commercial lots and coloured fibre consignments . The closure of the CSIRO scour will result in disruption to many businesses , closure to others.

The Manager of the CSIRO Geelong Division is advising producers to send their fibre offshore for scouring; amazing advice given that the introduction of product embedded carbon is imminent. If scouring is done overseas then it will logically follow that subsequent processing will be done overseas and local small fibre processors will be forced to close through lack of work. So not only will we lose the ability to buy Australian grown and processed natural fibre products, but we will also lose the technical knowledge required to preform processing tasks. Scouring overseas is not a sensible option. Australian fibre industries need the CSIRO scour to remain in Australia and to be accessible for both research and contract work.

(A paragraph detailing the effect the closure of the scour will have upon the individual or business if appropriate)

Yours faithfully

(Individual / Company name)

c.c.Minister for Agriculture Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au,

 

cc. Local Federal & State Members.(insert names of Members here)