Export Strategy

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (15:36): My question is to the Minister for Investment and Trade. Can the minister inform the house on measures taken by the government to support economic growth through greater international engagement and exports?

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:37): I thank the member for Colton for his question because I know that jobs are very important in his electorate and there are a number of headwinds facing the national and state economy which are concerning, not the least of which is oil, gas and iron ore prices reducing. The federal government's decision to remove support for the automotive industry is going to cost enormous jobs and growth over coming years and the threat from the federal government to buy submarines and ships overseas rather than to build them in Australia is also worrying growth and jobs, and that is why the growth in jobs in the small business sector is so important, both in the city and across the regions.

That is why economic growth and job creation through international engagement and exports are so important to the forward story. In particular, the overwhelming feedback that the government has received from the private sector and partners is that South Australia is well placed to capitalise on the benefits of free trade agreements—existing ones in the case of Japan, South Korea and in other places and those that are planned in the case of China, India and elsewhere—with a comprehensive engagement across key sectors including agribusiness and services, two of the largest beneficiaries of free trade agreements.

The cornerstone of the government's engagement with China has been our sister-state relationship with Shandong province. In May the Premier will lead a senior delegation of up to 200 representatives from the business community from the state and local governments. It will be the biggest trade mission South Australia has ever run. In August a further mission will be conducted to India, and then another to South-East Asia. We will be leading delegations to Jinan, Qingdao, Shanghai and Hong Kong. This economic activity will complement the state's involvement in Hofex and SIAL under the banner of South Australia in China Business Month. I encourage local firms to take an opportunity to register their interest in the delegation and in these trade missions. The China Engagement Strategy will be reviewed later this year.

I am also happy to report to the house early interest in the renewed Export Partnership Program, which has made it easier for business to apply for co-investment funding of up to $50,000 from government. There have been 52 inquiries, 32 applications have commenced, and one application has already been completed as at 16 March 2015. This money is getting out on the road where it is needed to support companies to export.

I have written to all members in the South Australian parliament to encourage them to promote this program to their business constituents. I would also encourage members to get their local firms to talk to our TradeStart advisers, who are readily available to provide the practical advice to business so that they can help the state government and themselves to deliver on export targets in the coming years.

The government understands the importance of getting small to medium enterprises moving. I recently visited Thomas Foods. They are employing 1,400 people at Murray Bridge and over 2,700 across the state, exporting meat to something like 80 destinations—many containers a week. They are a wonderful example of our primary producers at work. They are bigger than Holden in terms of employment, and they are an example of the opportunities across the aquaculture, food, and manufacturing and services space that this government is activating through its engagement and export strategy.

It is an important question, and one that points to the way forward for the economy. It won't be easy, but we will get jobs through this strategy—

The SPEAKER: The minister's time has expired. The member for Mitchell.