Wine Export Roadshow

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:39): Further supplementary arising from the answer: as a result of the minister's attendance at San Francisco, what specific benefit, how many more contracts, how many more South Australian jobs resulted because of the minister's attendance in San Francisco?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:39): Mr President, this is the sort of question that was asked yesterday. I think—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: It would be good if the members opposite would listen for a change. This is about supporting our wine producers, and of course we have four of the great Australian families of wine. We have the Osbornes, the Hill-Smiths, the Henschkes and the Angoves, so we have four of the great nation building wine families. Just the fact that you can go there—and that's what members opposite don't understand—to show just an hour or two support—and we only had about an hour or two in my program to go there—to support this sector indicates that this government values the sector. We want them to grow it. It is now worth over $2 billion to us.

We want to make sure that we get the market intel, so that when we have appointed somebody in Houston they can actually support some of our vignerons getting especially into the Texas market, which is a particularly strong market, some 30-odd million people, and a particularly strong economy, and we think we will have some wonderful success in Texas. I think it is a bit of a cheap shot and a bit childish to say, 'Well, how many jobs, how many orders?' This is about a government that supports exporters, supports our economy. We want to make sure that people know we are going to be there with them every step of the way.