(AreaNews) -

CASELLA Wines boss John Casella has called on the federal government to help loosen the noose suffocating local exporters and artificially push down the Australian dollar.

Despite the dollar dropping below parity with the greenback for the first time in 11 months this week, Mr Casella whose family company is Australia's largest wine exporter said a dollar just below US90c would have "profound economic benefits" for local industry. 

Casella announced the first loss in its history in January, blaming the high Aussie dollar.

"If the Australian government did get involved (in manipulating the dollar), it wouldn't be the first government in the world to do so," Mr Casella said.

"The high currency is not in the best interests of the general population. Cheap TVs and cars don't compensate for people losing their jobs."

A high dollar makes imports cheaper and Aussie exports less attractive to other countries a deadly combination for an export-reliant economy like Griffith.