International Trade

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (15:25): My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Can the minister please provide an update to the house on the ways the government has been supporting exporters to engage with international markets?

The Hon. S.J.R. PATTERSON (Morphett—Member of the Executive Council, Minister for Trade and Investment) (15:25): First of all, can I just congratulate you, Mr Speaker. This is the first chance I have had to address you, so congratulations on being the Speaker. Also, I would like to thank the member for MacKillop for his question, coming from a very important—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Look at my mentoring of you. You are like a son to me.

The Hon. S.J.R. PATTERSON: Good, thank you.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.J.R. PATTERSON: Specifically, I want to thank the member for MacKillop for his question. His region certainly is a very important one for South Australia. It is a region that has high-quality agriculture—whether that's wheat, barley, dairy, the seafood industry as well. But, really importantly, it is one of the premier wine regions: the Coonawarra with their terra rossa soil—magnificent soil there. As a government, since we have been here we have been focused on growing the economy, not just in the regions but for all South Australians, so it's a pleasure to sit here and stand here as well in the chamber and talk about how we are trying to grow the economy for South Australians, which means jobs for South Australians.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. S.J.R. PATTERSON: Hear, hear!

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.J.R. PATTERSON: One of the ways we are trying to grow that economy is via trade as well—it's a really important segment—and making sure that South Australian businesses, such as those in the member for MacKillop's region, are able to interact with the international markets and export their high quality produce.

Of course, the food and wine sector is really important, but with the times we live in we are really quite challenged regarding the coronavirus. It has really impacted on how businesses can export—whether that's face to face, government to government or business to business. That's quite a challenge for us and, really, we are living in a new normal. Gone are the days when, as I said, you would meet face to face. Now it is much more about that digital engagement. As a government, we have been really cognisant of that and actually ahead of the game.

We have had that in place, even prior to the coronavirus, recognising it's important we engage digitally with our markets via web seminars or even other sorts of events. These events are great because not only do they allow consumers and customers from our export regions to understand what it's like in South Australia but it also helps to provide market information for our South Australian exports about the markets they are going into. As I said, we are able to touch base with all those countries and explain what a fantastic health response we have been able to achieve here in South Australia and show that we are open for business.

The member for MacKillop might like to know that one of the ways we are doing that is via virtual wine-tasting events. It is a way of engaging with some key markets—whether that be China, whether that be Malaysia—some of our key export markets—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.J.R. PATTERSON: —and we have set up virtual wine-tasting. I hear the interest from members opposite as well. We have people on the ground in our China trade offices and our Malaysia trade offices who interact with the consumer base over there. They get registration to these events, and then to those who are registered we can send over fantastic South Australian wines. To China we involved 10 wineries and to Malaysia we involved three wineries. We are able to expose to them what it is while they can't be there face to face. The wineries themselves can take them through the different wines and explain the nuances and what fantastic produce we have.

I can update you on that, Mr Speaker. We had over 800 registrations to these events. Importantly, because they are now online they can be recorded. That means that if you can't attend the event in person you can always replay it later. You can buy those bottles of wine, arrange for them to be delivered and then do the wine-tasting session weeks afterwards. That has led to over 19,400 views of these fantastic virtual wine events. From that we also had quite a significant number of inquiries, which South Australian wineries, including from the Coonawarra, are able to follow up. It's a fantastic way that this government is really supporting our businesses here in South Australia to export to the world—and that means jobs.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I call to order the member for West Torrens, the member for Playford, the member for Cheltenham and the member for Light.