Women in Agribusiness

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee:

That this council—

1. Raises awareness of the important role women play in agribusiness and in regional South Australia, especially in leadership roles;

2. Notes that women are occupying an increasing number of diverse roles in agribusiness; and

3 Recognises that South Australia continues to encourage more women to pursue careers in agriculture and horticulture as the world’s growing demand for our food continues to rise.

(Continued from 6 June 2018.)

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (17:44): I rise to wholeheartedly support this motion. We know that women play a vital role in the agribusiness sector. We know that it is crucial for South Australia to continue to promote women in agribusiness. Under Labor, the Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions strategy was developed. This strategy, from 2014 to 2017, was an overwhelming success.

It was under the former minister for agriculture, Leon Bignell, that this strategy became a reality. To bring the Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions strategy to life, the Labor government, through the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA), engaged talented and committed women who worked in the agribusiness sector to share their expertise, insights and leadership.

Some of the highlights and outcomes of the strategy included distributing 2,200 profile packs to state government agencies, industry partners, schools and career expos; commencing a program with UniSA to assist in matching up pre-service teachers with industry partners; and working with the former department of education and child development on a STEM in schools program, where women in agribusiness helped young people with project ideas and mentorship.

Talking of science, technology, engineering and maths, or STEM, I am glad to be able to highlight the previous Labor government's investment in STEM, including the $250 million STEM Works initiative which was announced as part of the 2016-2017 Labor state budget.

One of the women involved in the Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions program is Wendy Fennell, who I have known since I worked in the forestry sector. Wendy is profiled on the Primary Industries site, and describes herself as 'Company owner, business leader, B-double driver, truck puller'. Wendy is both managing director and co-owner of Fennell Forestry, which is one of the largest timber harvest and transport companies in my area of the state, the South-East. Wendy was named Business Woman of the Year at the Women in Business and Regional Development awards in 2015, an award that was well-deserved.

Wendy was the instigator of the annual Fennell Forestry Truck Pull Challenge, which attracts teams from around Australia and raises money for children's charities. Each year she harnesses up to help her company team drag a 23-tonne B-double truck for 100 metres—hence 'truck puller' in her title. Wendy speaks very highly of the impact of the 12-month business growth program with which she was involved in 2016. She describes doing that program as her smartest move because she and her business partner, her brother Barry, learned to better manage the business by working to their strengths.

She says that people are the most important part of any business and if you are going to lead, lead by example. As I am shadow minister for forestry, I was particularly pleased to see the following quote from Wendy:

Forestry has a great future. Timber is a renewable resource, it has neutral carbon footprint, and there's constant innovation. It's dynamic.

And of course, 'dynamic' is an excellent description of the entire agribusiness sector.

Other women from the Limestone Coast involved with the Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions program include Sheryl Vickery, who is a harvesting forester and roading manager for a Mount Gambier-based forest management company. Sheryl essentially oversees the flow of wood from the forest to the port—from log making and timber identification to weighbridge and dispatch.

Sheryl started her career as a mill hand in a local timber mill and progressed to be team leader and then supervisor before studying for a Bachelor of Forest Science and Management. Sheryl completed her study part time over six years while she continued to work full time and care for two children. I also like the quote she uses to promote women's involvement in the industry:

If you enjoy the outdoors and mixing with lots of different personalities, consider forestry. There are lots of jobs for women where you can be outside most of the time, like working in health and safety, planting, chemical and fertiliser application, mapping, or the nursery.

She also says:

Our industry is in a really good position at the moment, particularly with the emergence of new technologies that use forest residue in the production of biofuels, electricity and pellets for heating.

Another woman profiled in the program is Josie Jackson, who is a farmer, businesswoman and passionate revegetator. Josie runs a native tree revegetation business in the South-East, manages the stock side of the family farm and organises and hosts horse schools. Josie also provides a great comment, 'Remember that good luck is spelled W-O-R-K.' I think that is something that most people involved in agribusinesses know all too well.

Some people assume that for women to enter the agribusiness sector or succeed in it they need to come from a farming background, live in a rural area or marry into a farming enterprise. This is not the case, and I encourage a look at the profiles on PIRSA's Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions web page to get a taste of the diversity of backgrounds and the diversity of experiences of women involved in agribusiness in our state.

Networks are an important part of business and professional development, and can be invaluable for women in the agribusiness sector. They are particularly important in regional areas, where there are fewer opportunities for face-to-face interactions than in city-based businesses. There are many effective networks that I could talk about, but I will mention just one today.

The Women in Forests and Timber Network (WFTN) is a forum for women in forestry and timber industries to meet and exchange ideas as well as to recognise the contributions of the women in the industry, to celebrate their achievements and to support their access to skills and professional development opportunities. I encourage women involved in the forest and timber industries to seek out the network and through their involvement raise the profile and strength of the industries and women's success within them.

As I am sure honourable members are aware, the agribusiness sector forms a huge part of the state's economy and contributed nearly $20 billion in revenue in 2016-17. This is a state record and one which the opposition is extremely proud of. There are many talented and committed women who are affiliated with primary industries through a variety of professions, and I urge the current government to do everything it can to follow in the footsteps of the Labor government and continue to promote women in agribusiness.

I would also like to use this opportunity to acknowledge the distress and heartache that farming families are going through due to the drought in New South Wales, as well as parts of Queensland and South Australia. Many farmers in Australia are desperately searching for feed to keep precious livestock alive as the drought deepens. It is a catastrophic situation and we all, of course, hope for rain as soon as possible. I commend the motion to the council.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (17:52): I thank the Hon. Clare Scriven for her contribution to this motion and for her support. I also thank her for highlighting successful role models in forestry and rural women in agribusiness from the Limestone Coast in the South-East region. It is great to hear the achievements that she has outlined of many agribusiness women in that region. We can be reassured that the South Australian government will do its best to support agribusiness women as well as the region. With those remarks, I commend the motion to the chamber.

Motion carried.