RURAL AMBASSADOR AWARDS

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:34): I seek leave to ask the Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! What was that, the Hon. Mr Wortley? I had a difficult time hearing what you were saying.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I seek leave to ask the Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about the Rural Ambassador program.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) is the major sponsor of South Australia's country shows, including the Young Rural Ambassador and Rural Ambassador Awards. My question is: can the minister inform the chamber about the Rural Ambassador Awards, which were held last night?

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) (14:35): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I am advised that each year there are 49 country shows held across South Australia. Country shows play a very important part in regional and rural communities; not only do they provide an arena in which social and business connections are forged but they also provide a valuable training ground for young South Australians to learn and develop their skills in agriculture, horticulture and viticulture. They are also a lot of fun.

The South Australian government recognises that the continued support of country shows, and of the young adults who participate in them, is vital to sustaining strong regional and rural communities, along with developing a succession plan in our primary industries. Since 2000, the South Australian government has delivered, via PIRSA, an annual grants fund of $100,000 to the Agricultural Societies Council of South Australia (ASC), the governance body which oversees South Australia's country shows. The PIRSA grant is allocated into two programs: $40,000 is directed to the 49 country shows to assist with prize money for things like competitions, and the remaining $60,000 is allocated to the Rural Ambassador Awards.

The Rural Ambassador program covers both the Young Rural Ambassador and the Rural Ambassador programs. Honourable members may remember that I have spoken previously about the Young Rural Ambassador Award, which is open to rural youth aged from 16 to 19 years. This year's Young Rural Ambassador winner was Carly Gogel, a leader of the next generation of women in our primary industries. I am advised that Carly, who is from Keith, hopes to use her time as Young Rural Ambassador to encourage more young people to become involved in their local agricultural shows.

The Rural Ambassador Award is available to young adults between 20 and 30 who are committed to their local show and community and again highlights the importance of youth participation in the agricultural show movement. Local shows select eligible entrants who then go on to compete in regional finals. Each regional representative then contests the state final at the Royal Adelaide Show. The state finals were held last night, and I am pleased to announce that the 2013 Rural Ambassador winner is Courtney Ramsey.

Courtney Ramsey, who currently works as a farmhand at Buckleboo, north-west of her hometown of Kimba on Eyre Peninsula, is an outstanding representation of the can-do spirit of our regions. Aside from her committed involvement in country shows for many yeas, Ms Ramsey also undertakes an exceptional amount of volunteer work within her local community, volunteering for organisations such as the Royal Society for the Blind and the Kimba District Football and Netball Club.

I am advised that Ms Ramsey hopes to use her award to encourage more young people to become involved in country shows and to draw attention to and raise support for young people's engagement in regional communities. The two runners-up, who were also announced during the awards, included Mr Edward Scott, who represents the Southern Region, and Ms Chelsea Dahlenburg, from the South-East and Border Region.

It is a real disgrace and disappointment that the federal Liberal government apparently cannot offer the same sort of support to South Australian regions, our primary industries, upon which our economy and communities are so dependent, or our future young rural leaders. This is a government that, as we know, is prepared to delay the River Murray buyback, a government that thinks it is a good place to make savings by ripping the heart out of our regions, a government that will take no responsibility for the health of our river or the health of South Australian communities, and a government that could not care less what happens to the South Australian industries and South Australian people dependent on our wonderful River Murray.