Grievance Debate

Business SA Export Awards

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:03): I rise today to speak about the Business SA 2015 Export Awards which I attended last week in my role as shadow minister for investment and trade. Nine fantastic South Australian businesses that sell their products to the world were recognised at the award ceremony which was held at the National Wine Centre.

I am always extremely impressed by the way our exporters are able to innovate, diversify and adapt to the changing overseas climate. These businesses are able to create a product that meets market demand. They pour time, money and effort into establishing long-term trade relationships. It is an area in which the state government has a major role to play and, given our reliance on exports, adequate support is critical.

I congratulate the nominees and the finalists, but there are always the award winners. The Agribusiness Award went to Ferguson Australia, a great South Australian business, which won this category for its third consecutive year. It is a 40-year-old company and is now one of the major rock lobster exporters into China with its high demand for seafood, and has an international reputation.

The Creative Industries Award went to the Windmill Theatre, which was formed back in 2002. It won the same category at the awards back in 2013 and in the Art and Entertainment Category in 2012. Since its inception, the national company has presented 56 productions made up of 27 new commissioned works, eight new productions of existing works and the presentation of 19 leading Australian and international companies; and it has undertaken 55 regional, national and international tours. It has toured nationally extensively. It has even toured internationally to the US, Canada, Scotland, Hong Kong, many of the South-East Asian countries and New Zealand. It really is a great highlight to see that group get up once again.

The Education and Training Award went to Flight Training Adelaide, which is a provider of world-class aviation training. It is located at Parafield Airport here in Adelaide, and it really does punch above its weight. It trains pilots for the international airlines. Every Cathay Pacific pilot is trained at Parafield, and that really is a great achievement. It trains pilots for Dragon Air, Qantas, Virgin, the Hong Kong Government Flying Survey and the Rescue and Salvage Bureau of China. Flight Training Adelaide really has stretched its wings far and wide, and it is a world-accredited company. It also won this award in 2012 and the national award in this category in 2007.

The Information and Communication Technology Award was won by Avinet, which is a great South Australian business. Avinet is an Adelaide-based business which has a broad range of rotary and fixed-wing aviation customers based in Australia, New Zealand, Africa, China, the United Kingdom and the United States, and those sectors using the systems include emergency services, aerial firefighting, aeromedical, police, aerial agriculture and charter. So, it is just a great business with its instrumentation.

The Manufacturing Award went to Levett Engineering. With a home base at Elizabeth Vale, Levett Engineering is a world-leading precision component manufacturer in the field of defence aerospace, medical electronics and commercial engineering. The Regional Exporter Award was won by Steriline Racing, which provides equipment to the world's major horseracing and dog racing events and regional clubs. The company is situated at Mount Barker and exports to 47 countries. It also supplies the equipment for the major equestrian events, such as those of the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympics. I must say that I used to have Steriline centre pivot irrigators on my property, so it is quite a diverse business.

The Small Business Award was won by Cape Barren Wines, which has been a well-established winery in McLaren Vale over many decades and which has gained a reputation for premium, high-quality wine. It has won many gold and silver medals throughout the country and New Zealand, as well as at international wine shows in China and spirit awards in Switzerland.

The Language and Culture Prize was awarded to Ennio International, which specialises in the manufacture and supply of high-quality, innovative netting and casing solutions for the meat and poultry industry. It is situated at Holden Hill and is another great business. The South Australian Exporter of the Year and Environmental Solutions Award winner was Sentek Technologies. It is a great business which was set up in the Riverland and which employs many people here in South Australia.

It exports to more than 80 countries around the world with its precision measurement and management of soil water and salinity dynamics. It is a great South Australian business.

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