In a letter to the Rural Press weekly agricultural newspapers this week, Mr Roberts hit out at suggestions from within the industry that he was "standing for the board as a stooge for AWGA".

"Nothing could be further from the truth," the Queensland wool grower said.

"I have never been a member of AWGA, but am in fact a member of Agforce, our State farm body, and through that membership I am a member of Wool Producers Australia.

"I am standing for the board of AWI as an independent, concerned wool grower."

In a sign of the tense political divisions in the industry, the letter was siezed upon by WoolProducers Australia vice president Geoff Fisken, who claimed the move to ditch AWGA was a result of the explosive revelations at this week's Senate hearings.

In fact, the letter was sent to Rural Press before the hearings had even begun.

"Following allegations in a Senate Committee about conflicts of interest within the AWI board involving AWGA, Mr Roberts is the first of that ticket to duck for political cover," he said.

"It is hardly surprising that Mr Roberts is trying to put as much distance between himself and AWGA as possible, the only question is why it took him this long?"

Mr Fisken said it was "a major snub to AWGA, with Mr Roberts clearly sensing that woolgrowers have had enough of this divisive industry splinter group".

However, Mr Roberts letter went on to urge wool growers to vote in the AWI elections and to vote against the incumbents in line with AWGA's recommendations.

"Our industry has gone from being regarded as Australia's greatest asset to a minor player in earning export income," he wrote.

"Our industry is still shrinking and to reverse this trend we have to make it more profitable.

"I believe with the group of individuals we have standing against the incumbent board members we have the diversity of skills, the passion and knowledge to turn this industry around."