Export Industry

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:18): My question is to the Minister for Investment and Trade. Can the minister advise the house of South Australia's export performance and the government's support to increasing trade?

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:18): I commend the member for Kaurna for his question—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is warned.

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: Exports are vitally important for jobs in his electorate, and that is why building robust trade and export growth is seen by the government as a sure pathway to a strong economy and further jobs. About 65,000 South Australian jobs are supported by exports, and South Australia's government is committed to seeing this number grow. We are bucking the national trend and racking up significant increases in the key areas that our international trade missions have focused upon.

Where state government can make a difference, we are making a difference. Excluding minerals, petroleum and the global downturn in resources, South Australia has recorded an 8.8 per cent increase in goods exported during this period—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: —and listen, because a lot of this is in their electorates—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The members for Hartley and Chaffey are warned.

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: This included:

wheat, up $306 million or 26 per cent;

wine, up $178 million or 15 per cent;

meat and meat preparations, up $108 million or 8.9 per cent;

vegetables and fruit, up $114 million or 25 per cent; and

other items, including bulk barley, up $163 million or 6.8 per cent.

These are the results that the South Australian government, working with primary producers and exporters, are achieving. These results reinforce the state government's focus on growing the premium food and wine, agriculture and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Just last week, the Chief Executive of the South Australian Wine Industry Association, Brian Smedley, wrote to me to thank the state government for its recent China-Shandong business mission. He said, and I quote:

…early indications that many wine companies are continuing discussions with the contacts made and this hopefully will result in worthwhile business for South Australian wineries.

We will continue to work with Mr Smedley to improve on the work we do and the results we are getting. Emerging markets are also becoming increasingly important to South Australia's export story. Strong growth was recorded in export markets of ASEAN and the Middle East, as well as the more traditional partner markets like the United States, the European Union and Canada.

Many of the South Australian players in the export market are small to medium enterprises in various phases of growth and maturity. The state government is committed to supporting these small businesses in their efforts through regular business missions to target markets, cultural training and market entry strategy development training, and through funding programs like the very successful Export Partnership Program. Exporters are also able to obtain advice from TradeStart advisers who are well versed in their needs. The EPP is an important program for businesses, which has been designed in response to reduced uptake in the last two years of the former Gateway Business Program.

Today, I announced $791,000 of EPP grants to 33 local companies, and demand for this program shows no sign of slowing with round five closing on 27 May, and I would encourage companies to apply. Companies like Mighty Kingdom, a recent recipient of a $25,000 grant, now designing apps that are played by approximately 200,000 children every day in over 40 countries. There is a long list of companies: Rossi Boots, Steriline Racing, Micromet, Hartwig Flying School, Ferguson Australia, AQUAessance and Podpac.

South Australian businesses are creating jobs and enterprise by exporting their goods and services to the world, and the state government is right behind them.