Grievance Debate

FOOD INDUSTRY AWARDS

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:15): I rise to speak today about agriculture in this state and also highlight the Premier's Food Industry Awards, which myself and my wife attended on Friday night. I note over 570 guests attended that event. The sad thing is there are heavy rumours about that that will be the last Premier's Food Awards gala night, which will be very sad if that is the case for this state and the excellent produce that is grown in the state. I would just like to acknowledge the award winners on the night. The South Australian Food Industry Hall of Fame inductee for 2010 was Beerenberg, which exports to many countries and which has done a great job over many years.

The Innovate SA Visionary Leader Award is an award that recognises individuals who have inspired and influenced others through their vision, creativity and commitment to excellence. The Young Recipient was Sam Tucker, the managing director of Food Service Solutions and Tucker’s Natural (Tucker's crackers and biscuits are sold throughout Australia and 12 countries worldwide), and also Tas Mitani, who has done many years of service to the food industry in this state.

The Food and Beverage Development Fund Valuing Workforce Development Award is an award that recognises a business that has demonstrated a commitment to developing its workforce to improve its overall business performance. I congratulate Bickford’s Australia and Angelo Kotses and the team there.

Peats Soil and Garden Supplies Creating Sustainability Award recognises a business that demonstrates excellence in its social, economic and environmental sustainability, and went to the Australian Caper Company at Mannum and Jonathon Trewartha was there to accept the award.

The Department of Trade and Economic Development Developing Markets Awards recognise business initiatives in developing markets, either domestic or international. Olga’s Fine Foods was the recipient of the domestic award and Seafood Exporters Australia was the recipient of the international award.

The Adelaide Showground Fostering Value Chain Award recognises a business that is leading a way in fostering value chain practices, and Kangaroo Island Pure Grain went away with the award there.

Food SA Growing Small Business Award, which recognises a business for its continued improvement and growth, went to Udder Delights at Lobethal.

The SARDI Leading Innovation Award recognises a business innovation in the development of new technologies and products, packaging or processing to realise competitive advantage. Again, this went to the Australian Caper Company.

The Adelaide Produce Markets Limited Servicing Industry award, an award recognising a business for an outstanding and innovative service which assists in growing the South Australian food industry, went to AMJ Produce.

Foodland SA Understanding Consumers Award recognises the best product development based on consumer demand, and went to Spring Gully Foods.

I would like to congratulate all the award winners and all the people that do such good work in this state, companies and individuals, in producing food. What I would also like to refer to, in regard to producing food in the state, is the current locust plague problem we have. There have been some issues, and I have always acknowledged the $12.8 million that the government has put up, but there have certainly been issues with roadside spraying and whether our NRM boards have been able to keep up with the roadside spraying.

I did hear that two members of the NRM board drove to the Riverland on Friday and said, 'Wow, we're in a mess,' and then drove back to their base and said they would be back on Monday. Well, that is just not the way to carry it out. In Victoria, the government has the farmers contracted to spray the roadsides.

In the remaining time that I have in this grieve, can I say that Depot Springs, east of Copley, is not on the radar in this state's fight against locusts. East of Copley is not that far north but neither the government nor the Australian Plague Locust Commission recognise that locusts are on this property. I outlined to the minister for agriculture's staffers at a briefing that was kindly supplied by the minister a couple of weeks ago that it is irresponsible for the government not to send a plane up to spray locusts when they can fly 500 kilometres in a night.

So, I urge the government to take more action. I know there are issues throughout the Mallee with the 1,500-metre upwind buffer zone and the 500-metre downwind buffer zone for aerial spraying. Many people have contacted my office and the member for Chaffey's office. We need to protect the close to 10 million tonne harvest and all of the other food producers in this state.