Regional Business Innovation

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Employment. Can the minister advise the chamber on how entrepreneurial business ideas are acknowledged in regional South Australia?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for his question and his strong interest in entrepreneurialism in South Australia, particularly in regional areas. It is incredibly important to spread the word about what South Australians are capable of, because there are some amazing achievements happening right across the state, particularly in regional areas, where we don't always see the same level of coverage as with what happens in metropolitan areas.

Throughout my travels I am constantly amazed at the wide variety of outstanding and innovative projects and businesses we have happening in regional South Australia. The regions make up a remarkably strong part of our economy. They contribute about $25 billion to the state's economy, and they do so with just 29 per cent of our population. For 17 years the South Australian Regional Awards program has acknowledged the many successful regional South Australian businesses and ideas. Over the course of the last six months or so, there have been some fantastic stories that are featured on the Inside South Australia website.

These stories highlight what we already know: that there is an abundance of great innovation, creativity and driven people in our regions who are achieving great things. The Limestone Coast, in particular, contributes significantly to the success of South Australia, and last week I had the pleasure of attending the 2016 South Australian Regional Awards for this area. It was an opportunity to celebrate and showcase some of the wonderful and successful achievements of our local community members, events and businesses. These initiatives target local economic and social development in the region.

The pursuit of such businesses will help make South Australia a place where people and businesses truly thrive. It was interesting to see the range of awards that were handed out last week at the regional awards for the Limestone Coast. Things such as Dickins' Delight, who turned a hobby of homemade toffee into a booming small business. Bliss was able to open a boutique coffee shop in Kingston, and the other finalists were shining examples of just how innovative some of the businesses in our state's regions are.

Of the winners from last week's awards were Simone Kain and Ben Hood, who have spent their whole working life growing up on big farming properties, and know exactly the journey from farm to plate. They recognise that many kids in South Australia don't have the knowledge or the opportunity to learn about food production, and they decided to make this sort of education both fun and informative. They created George the farmer—which many parents will be aware of—to educate children about farming practices, along with food and fibre production through stories, pictures, songs, games and interactive means.

George is helping, not only bridging the gap in knowledge with regard to where food comes from, but also helping decrease any divide between country and city knowledge. Simone and Ben do a fantastic job educating children to develop a better understanding of and connection to where food and fibre come from. I didn't realise until last week that it was possible to make a fun and interesting song about pulses, but apparently it is.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Sing it.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Despite the challenge of the minister next to me, I will not sing the song, although I believe a song similar to it appeared in early Doris Day movies. Another award winner was Ockert le Roux Photography. It was founded by one individual who has travelled the world extensively, including around Australia four times, but decided that the South-East, and Mount Gambier in particular, was the place where he would capture the most stunning photographs and has now settled there. Ockert spoke about the natural wonder of the South-East, and I would certainly agree with him, but deciding to settle your family and your business in an area is more than just getting a good photo; it shows that there are amazing opportunities in areas like this.

Finally, looking at the award for an event, Generations in Jazz was another well-deserved winner. It is a festival that has grown up to accommodate, they are predicting next year, some 6,000 attendees, encompassing some of the world's best jazz musicians, schools and other practitioners. Last year, I am told, the festival cracked the record for the largest big top tent we have ever seen in this state.

The prize for the Generations in Jazz festival was collected on the night by well-known local surgeon Barney McCusker who, quite rightly, is very proud of this festival and the increasing jazz scene in Mount Gambier. I would encourage anyone who is in Mount Gambier if they are invited by Barney to go and see the recently opened Morrison's Jazz Club, the New York style jazz club on the main street of Mount Gambier, to accept his invitation, because it is a truly remarkable thing that is happening in regional South Australia.

All of the regional award nominees were winners, and I was impressed by the passion and innovation of their contributions to the region and beyond. I congratulate all the finalists and look forward to attending, if I can, these awards, as I have the last couple of years.