COTTON Australia and the Australian Cotton Shippers Association have decided to postpone the Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast for another year, until August 2022.

The Boards of both organisations met this week to make the final difficult decision, which came down to two key reasons:

• The significant financial risk exposure to both not-for-profit organisations
• Uncertainty about the type and quality of event that could be conducted, given the restrictions currently and possibly in place

The Boards are currently considering some smaller, regional events for this year that would take the place of the conference.

Cotton Australia chairman Hamish McIntyre said it was a very difficult decision.

“However, the current climate we’re living with – border closures, hot spots, social distancing, venue restrictions, caps on numbers, international and inter-state travel limits and lockdowns that can occur at any moment – has meant the risk is too great that the Conference may not go ahead or be severely limited in some way,” he said.

“We are hoping that by August 2022 the COVID-19 vaccine program will be in place, borders will be open, international travel may have resumed and we can put on the calibre of event that our delegates, sponsors and exhibitors have come to expect.”

Sources: Cotton Australia, ACSA