RURAL WOMEN'S AWARD

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development and Minister for the Status of Women a question regarding regional and rural women.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Supporting South Australian regional and rural women to develop their leadership potential is a crucial part of creating vibrant and sustainable regions and increasing women's participation in our primary industries. Can the minister inform the chamber of the South Australian government's ongoing support of regional women via the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women's Award?

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) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for her important question. Mr President, you would have heard me speak previously about the vital contribution South Australian women make in our regions and within our primary industries, and we are certainly incredibly fortunate in this state to have a considerable pool of remarkably talented and passionate women who dedicate their working lives, and indeed much of their personal lives, to ensuring that they produce significant outcomes for their regions and their own local rural communities.

Conversely, I have previously spoken in this place of the obstacles that can confront regional women in harnessing their leadership potential and accessing opportunities that are sometimes easily, or certainly more easily, available to their metropolitan counterparts. Things like tyranny of distance, along with the prevalence of some often very male dominated industries and sometimes more complex pathways for women in our regions can create challenges that are not easily overcome simply with a bit of hard work.

The South Australian government understands that creating lasting and real change in our society does not occur by standing idly by and waiting for inequity to fix itself, unlike our current federal government which only has one female member of cabinet; it stands by and just waits for women's talent to arrive. It requires a government that is committed to providing input and leadership, things like scholarships and training. Eleven women, I understand, are going to take a place on our shadow ministry, compared to—what does the Liberal Coalition have—one: one woman compared to eleven women. One woman in the Liberal Coalition cabinet—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wade, if you want to interject, interject from your place and I will rule you out of order then.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —eleven that have been indicated to be on the Labor ministry. It is also of most importance that trailblazing women who are currently leaders in their industries and regional communities are acknowledged for their commitment and passion. I am pleased to inform the chamber that PIRSA will again be sponsoring the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women's Award for 2014. The award is open to all women, regardless of formal qualifications, who are involved in natural resource management and primary industries.

The winner of the award receives a $10,000 bursary provided by RIRDC to implement a vision for their industry and support the winner's professional development through formal business or management training, the establishment of business plans or designing pilot programs, and such like. All state winners, along with the runner up, also have the opportunity to enhance their leadership opportunities by attending a one-week residential Australian Institute of Company Directors course. The course teaches the critical skills required around the duties and roles of board membership, along with knowledge in risk management, strategy development and organisational and financial performance.

I was very pleased to attend the 2013 award ceremony in March of this year and announce the winner of this year's SA Rural Woman of the year, Anna Hooper. Ms Hooper is a winemaker at Cape Jaffa Wines at Mount Benson, near Robe. I am advised that she will use her award bursary to explore how Australian wine compares to global performers in environmental performance and investigate ideas for improvement.

Applications for the 2014 RIRDC Rural Women's Award close on Thursday 31^st of this month and all state winners travel to Parliament House in Canberra for the announcement of the Australian RIRDC Rural Women's Award later in 2014. I encourage all honourable members who know of eligible women who are making valuable contributions in their communities to put forward their nominations for this award.