STATE STRATEGIC PLAN

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): I have a supplementary question. Will the minister provide to the chamber the time frame over which the statistics she quoted were assessed?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:27): In terms of the $442 million (3 per cent), which enabled us to reach record levels of $14.3 billion, that was in 2011-12, a gross food revenue figure.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Was the $400 million growth in one calendar year?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The figures I have state that in 2011-12 gross food revenue increased by $442 million (3 per cent) to reach record levels of $14.3 billion. Even in the face of the real facts and figures, we still see the opposition, in its churlish way, trying to quibble around specifics. The honourable member should be getting up in this place and espousing the virtues of this government and the achievements of our food and wine sectors and agribusiness sectors.

These are largely small to medium-sized businesses and are made up of mainly family interests. Instead of getting up in this place and commending the enormous amount of work that these small to medium-sized businesses have contributed to the state's prosperity, with the assistance and support of the Jay Weatherill government, he bemoans these achievements; he bags these achievements and the progress made. What he seeks to do is undermine business confidence and undermine what is going on. He seeks to undermine business confidence and fails to acknowledge the hard work of these businesses and the invaluable contribution they make to this state.