LANDMARK has defended its decision to sack specialist Queensland wool industry representative Bruce Lines, saying the industry will be continue to be serviced by Marc McKellar in Charleville and Tim Gregory in Blackall.
Landmark's north east Australia region director, Robert Payne, said Landmark had not been left without a state based wool representative, as reported by Queensland Country Life on Friday.
"In fact, Landmark has two staff that will service our wool business, Marc McKellar based at our Charleville location and Tim Gregory located at Blackall," Mr Payne said.
"Additionally Marc and Tim are also highly capable in terms of executing livestock sales," a reference to their roles in the cattle industry.
Mr McKellar is the wool and livestock manager at the Charleville branch, and a well known AuctionsPlus assessor. Mr Gregory is the recently appointed manager of the Blackall branch and has prior experience with wool and Merino sheep.
"These two staff are well positioned geographically to service and add value to our wool growing clients, who are very important to us," Mr Payne said.
"Given the vast nature of the state of Queensland coupled with where our wool clients are domiciled the new structure will allow us to better support our wool growing clients."
Roma-based Bruce Lines was sacked as Landmark's Queensland wool area manager on Thursday.
Mr Lines said in an email to clients, a restructure of the Landmark wool business had resulted in the position being made redundant.
Landmark's southern Queensland wool representative Michael Welsh was made redundant mid-year.
It is understood as part of the restructure, Landmark wool clients have also been canvassed on warehousing their wool in Dubbo rather than at the Acacia Ridge wool stores in Brisbane.
"I need not tell everyone that the sheep and wool industry in Queensland has been struggling but if a big pastoral house company is restructuring and putting off the only primary Queensland based wool area manager I think questions need to be asked," Mr Lines said.
Mr Payne said all staff are supported by Landmark's extensive branch network and dedicated wool staff located at the wool selling centre.