Edwardstown Regional Business Association

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:17): Today I rise to speak about a very dynamic and proactive group of businesspeople known as the Edwardstown Regional Business Association (ERBA). Ten years ago, six forward-thinking businesspeople came together with a vision to support and grow businesses in the local area. Today, ERBA is the fastest-growing business association in southern Adelaide, with over 150 members and a newsletter database reach of over 750 businesses.

Undeniably, it fulfils a vital role in the inner southern Adelaide business community. The importance of this group is the collaboration, peer support and exchange of ideas and experiences, and it is valued by all who attend the meetings. An example of a recent event saw 65 businesspeople join Heatlie Barbecues for a tour at their new facility in North Plympton to hear how the business has expanded over the past 10 years and how it intends to strategically face the future.

To further demonstrate the initiatives of ERBA, at the beginning of April there will be a breakfast meeting entitled 'Creating a digital office using the NBN', and at the beginning of May, in recognition of mental health issues and pressures business owners can experience, ERBA has organised a morning workshop with keynote speaker Jeff Kennett AC, chair of beyondblue. This conference will be opened by the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse (minister Vlahos).

In an around the electorate of Elder, there are around 1,600 small to medium business enterprises of all persuasions, from coffee shops that serve the local area right through to businesses with overseas networks and markets such as MIMP and Sturm Mechanical Engineering. Over time, I have strengthened relationships with business in my area, and ensure annually that the Treasurer is a guest speaker at ERBA post budget. I know his candid discussion is always appreciated.

Discussions with past convener Paul Williams and, in recent times, his predecessors, co-chairs Greg Garrihy, Kosette Lambert and Phil Ransome, motivated me to initiate and convene lunchtime meetings at my office to provide business owners a further forum to voice their opinions and share their experiences. I posed a goal to add one more employee per business—a vision the group shared; recognition that if employers can grow their business, they grow employment opportunities and, in turn, boost our economy.

My inaugural business roundtable attendees were those who had demonstrated recent growth attributed to renewed strategic visions underpinned by various federal and state government funds. I was honoured to host Greg Garrihy, MD, NEM; Phil Ransome, CE, The Executive Roundtable; and Kosette Lambert, GM, Advanced Focus. Also present were Allan Aitchison, CE, MIMP Connecting Solutions; Andrew Richards, MD, Sturm's Mechanical Engineering; Cathy Barton, MD, Silver Fleece; and Paul Williams, MD, Comace. Unfortunately, on this occasion Ben Grace from ec-group, South Australia's only carpet manufacturer, and Neville Cornish from Australian Welding Solutions were unable to attend.

All business owners present shared a common theme, being commitment to South Australia, vision for the future, redefined strategic directions recognising opportunity and working continually for success in growth and expansion of their businesses. One such example is Silver Fleece, a company of over 60 years of age, still powering strong under the direction of Managing Director, Cathy Barton. It is, and has always been, proudly an Australian manufacturer.

Silver Fleece began by supplying the school market with garments, and today, while it continues to supply many schools and colleges throughout Australia with a wide range of customised product, finished and ready for sale, it also supplies many corporations and companies looking to identify themselves with a quality garment befitting the quality of their own goods or services. Excitingly, this South Australian company will soon begin production of the jumpers for our very own Australian cricket team.

I thank the group for its robust discussion and some very frank and fearless feedback. Some key messages from the meeting were that business owners benefit from the value of networking; they must value taking time to 'look up', accepting help and being brave enough to redesign their business and utilise peer-to-peer learning opportunities. ERBA published in its latest newsletter the outcomes of this meeting and the support at the local level.

All attendees at my inaugural business roundtable meeting were complimentary of the South Australian government's endeavours in support of business and agreed unanimously that the solutions to our state's challenges are a responsibility for all of us and it was not simply for the government to deal with alone.