Ministerial Statement

ITALIAN CONSULATE

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (11:31): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I am sure all members will share my concern and that of the government about the proposed closure of the Italian Consulate in Adelaide. Late last week the member for Norwood informed me of an announcement in the Italian national parliament in Rome that a number of Italian consulates around the world would be closed. I understand that this announcement followed the joint sitting of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of both the Italian Senate and House of Deputies on 10 June.

It is understood that the move to close a considerable number of consulates was a rationalisation or cost-cutting initiative. There has been speculation that this move will save the Italian government about €8 million a year from 2011. I am not yet fully aware of the timetable for the proposed closure of the office in Adelaide, but I understand that it is likely to occur some time before the end of 2010.

Two Italian consulates in Australia have been proposed for closure—Adelaide and Brisbane. I understand that if this were to occur it would mean that South Australia would be serviced by the Italian Consulate in Melbourne. All members would be aware that South Australians of Italian background comprise the largest ethnic group in South Australia, with about 14,000 people actually holding Italian passports and around 100,000 South Australians being of Italian origin.

An active and energised Italian Consulate has been an integral part of our community for many decades and central to local Italian community activities. In addition to normal consular functions involving migration, visas and passports, the Italian Consulate has been very much the hub of the community for trade, social welfare, community services to the elderly, and cultural and language activities.

The closure of the Italian Consulate will cause enormous inconvenience to people having their consular needs serviced from Melbourne. It will also be a body blow to local Italian community affairs given the central role that the consulate plays.

Only last week the Italian ambassador and I opened the Punto Italia Centre in Campbelltown, which brings together a range of Italian-related services and activities; so the timing of the announcement from Rome could not have been worse.

The announcement of the proposed closure also occurs at a time when South Australia's relationship with Italy is being reinvigorated. The South Australian government has formed a special relationship with the government of Puglia, and as a result a series of initiatives are currently underway, including educational, scientific and business exchanges. For instance, South Australia is the only state in Australia to participate in the Fiera del Levante—the major Italian trade affair held in Bari each year.

The relationship with Puglia builds on the special relationship or gemellaggio with the Campania region. In recent times the South Australian government has invested a significant increase in funding to the Carnevale and has contributed $30,000 to revive the Dante Alighieri Society's Italian language and cultural programs. The South Australian government has also committed $200,000 for the relief and rebuilding following the tragic earthquake in the L'Aquila area of Abruzzo.

The member for Norwood is preparing a petition against the proposed closure of the Italian Consulate that will be presented to the Italian parliament in Rome. I understand that she will be working with a number of other members of parliament on this petition. In the meantime, I will be writing to the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, urging his government to reconsider the closure of the Italian Consulate in Adelaide, given the strength and importance of the Italian community in South Australia and ties between our state and Italy that are growing rather than diminishing.

To proceed with the closure of the consulate would be a body blow to the Italian community, which has contributed so much to our state, and would have a detrimental impact on the range of services that are coordinated by the consulate. I understand that the member for Norwood will be moving a notice of motion this afternoon, and I am sure it will be supported by all members in a bipartisan way.