Women In Agriculture and Business

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:38): Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Women in Agriculture and Business centenary celebration in Riverton, representing the Hon. Leon Bignell. I was joined at the event by the Hon. Geoff Brock; Mayor Alan Aughey, who is the mayor of the Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council; and Liz Calvert, the Women in Agriculture and Business president. The Women in Agriculture and Business centenary celebration was a great opportunity to promote and celebrate the important role that women have in advancing agribusiness and regional South Australia.

South Australia's food, wine, fisheries and aquaculture industries are a vital part of the state's economy and its biodiversity and are our largest export sector. Our agribusiness sector has experienced strong growth in recent years due to rapidly increasing global demand for high-quality food and wine. In 2015-16, these industries generated more than $21 billion in revenue accounting for more than 52 per cent of the state's merchandise exports, and employed approximately 150,000 people or, to put that another way, one in five working South Australians.

South Australia's regions are the heart of the state's agriculture, food and wine industries along with other major industries, including tourism, mining, minerals processing and energy production. Our regions punch well above their weight, contributing about $25 billion to the state's economy per year and producing approximately half of our merchandise exports with just 29 per cent of the population.

The government wants to see the contribution made by our primary industries and regions continue to grow, to help drive the economy and generate much-needed employment opportunities. We need to encourage both men and women to become involved not just in primary production but also in critical areas right throughout the value chain, such as manufacturing and processing, wholesale and retail sales, and services.

Agribusiness is a vital part of our state's economy. Regional businesses, including agribusiness, are the driver of many local economies and communities. We have a proud history of agriculture in South Australia, from the establishment of the Roseworthy Agricultural College as the first dedicated agricultural teaching college in Australia to our current cutting-edge research and development programs being undertaken, particularly at the Waite research precinct.

Women in Agriculture and Business has been a significant part of the agricultural history in Australia. Women in Agriculture and Business is the oldest rural women's group in Australia with a statewide branch network and is dedicated to women interested in rural, agricultural and business issues, offering an education hub, leadership opportunities and skills and a dynamic network. Indeed, it had its beginnings in Riverton where we celebrated on the weekend.

From the early days, WAB has had close links with the Agricultural Bureau and various government and agricultural agencies. PIRSA has had a long relationship with this group and was very proud to have been a major sponsor of their centenary celebration. Both the aim and the mission of Women in Agriculture and Business are to recognise women for their leadership and contribution to the vibrant and sustainable communities that exist in our regional areas. As well as facilitating a range of activities throughout the state that support, encourage and develop women with rural, agricultural and business interests, this aligns of course with the government's and PIRSA's Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions Strategy.

Women play a significant role in agribusiness, and there is great potential for the sector and our regions to benefit even more from female industry participation and leadership. I congratulate the women who attended the Women in Agriculture and Business centenary celebration for their dedication to the agricultural sector, and praise the efforts of Women in Agriculture and Business for their tireless efforts in promoting and supporting the development and involvement of rural women in the South Australian agricultural sector.