Export Partnership Program

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:13): My question is to the Minister for Investment and Trade. Can the minister advise who were the successful recipients of round 8 of the Export Partnership Program?

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) (15:13): I thank the member for Light for his question. I sit here waiting for questions and I thank the member for Light for them. The Export Partnership Program was launched on 5 March 2015. The program has been an overwhelming success: 360 applications have been received to date and over $3.6 million has been offered to 164 successful applicants. South Australia is exporting more than ever, with total exports reaching a new high of $15.12 billion in the 12 months to March 2017.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: They are the ABS's figures, but you don't know how to read them because you are not numerate.

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: Building robust trade and export growth is a pathway to a strong economy and jobs. More than 72,000 South Australian jobs are now supported by exports. Through the EPP, local businesses can apply for up to $50,000 for eligible export projects and activities. Many of those applications come from the electorates of members opposite. Grants may be used to support South Australian businesses to attend key international trade events, as well as coaching, training, market intelligence and mentoring in order to plan for international opportunities and build their export capability.

This government's international engagement program objective is to boost exports, create jobs and new opportunities. International missions in 2016 created over 1,500 business connections, more than 650 export leads and a combined value of over $300 million, and every department on this side of the house and every minister are working together to support that agenda.

I congratulate the 16 successful applicants in round 8 and advise the house that round 9 of the program closed on 26 May 2017 and successful applicants will be advised shortly. I look forward to updating the house of the panel's recommendations for round 9, as this will include the first applicants for the industry group funding category. The industry group funding category will assist small business associations to work with their members to put together export plans and proposals that will carve an export pathway for those businesses.

I congratulate the following 16 successful round 8 grant recipients and wish them well in their export endeavours: 919 Wines from Berri, $4,300; Adelaide Hills Distillery, Wayville, $25,000; Carey Training Pty Ltd, Hilton, $23,000; Claymore Wines of Leasingham, $33,000; EQUALS International Australia, $11,900; Eyrewoolf Enterprises Pty Ltd in Streaky Bay, $13,800; Geoff Hardy Wines, McLaren Vale, $32,000; Hot Melt Packaging Systems, Export Park, $25,000; Hydro-dis, Holden Hill, $50,000; Lobethal Road Wines, Mount Torrens, $30,000; Made in Katana and MIK Health, Adelaide, $12,500; Momentum Food and Wine, Adelaide, $14,000; Oasis Systems Pty Ltd, Eastwood, $21,900; Pristine Forage Technologies, Edwardstown, $13,000; Tim Adams Wines, Clare, $12,900; and Woodstock Wines and Coterie, McLaren Flat, $50,000.

The government is supporting small businesses to export. We are out there supporting the very people those opposite should be supporting if only they had a policy.