Agricultural Town of the Year

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:27): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minster please update the chamber on the Agricultural Town of the Year?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The two leaders are not being helpful today.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:27): I am very pleased to be able to advise the council that the field for the title of 2022 Agricultural Town of the Year has been narrowed to five towns. Each year the award highlights the importance of developing and maintaining a strong and vibrant agricultural sector in South Australia by recognising towns that are excelling in agricultural practices and also the flow-on effect that this has on communities.

This year's finalist towns are—and I feel that I do need to point out where some of these towns are for those opposite because obviously they thought that Grant and Mount Gambier weren't regional. The finalist towns are Crystal Brook in the Yorke and Mid North—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —Kapunda in the Barossa, Light in the Lower Light—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The two leaders, you are not helping.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Mypolonga for Murray River and Mallee, Orroroo for—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Sorry, minister, can you just start that sentence again. I'm hearing none of it.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Certainly. This year the—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, please.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Thank you, I would be delighted to continue if those opposite would show the appropriate restraints.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, just continue.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Crystal Brook, Yorke and Mid North, Kapunda in the Barossa, Light and Lower Light region, Mypolonga in Murray River and Mallee, Orroroo in Yorke and Mid North, and Waikerie in Murray River and Mallee. This year Crystal Brook and Waikerie are first-time finalists while Orroroo, Mypolonga and Kapunda have made the list for another year.

A public vote decided the finalists from 54 nominated towns, with 4,100 votes received, representing a 35 per cent increase on the 3,200 received votes the previous year. The growth in votes received this year shows the competition is growing in prominence and that communities are rallying around their favourite agricultural towns to get them well-deserved recognition.

For the next stage of the judging process, a panel of independent judges, which comprises a mix of ambassadors, well-known identities and experts from South Australia's primary industries and regions, will visit each of the finalist towns. The judging panel is made up of Angelo Demasi, Chief Executive Officer of the SA Produce Market and a passionate South Australian food ambassador; wine and agribusiness ambassador Simon Maddocks, Chair of Primary Producers SA; Mayor Erika Vickery OAM, Naracoorte Lucindale Council and Chair of the South Australian Regional Organisation of Councils; Kris Lloyd AM, Chief Executive and Head Cheese Maker, Woodside Cheese Wrights and proud food, wine and agribusiness ambassador.

The 2022 Agricultural Town of the Year will be announced on Friday 4 November at the Regional Showcase celebrations, so I encourage all members who truly care about regions to put that date into their diaries. It will be an excellent regional showcase celebration, and I encourage everyone to be involved. The winning town receives entrance signage recognising its achievement and a community unveiling event.

I would like to extend my personal congratulations to Crystal Brook, Kapunda, Mypolonga, Orroroo and Waikerie on being named in the top five. These towns represent different regions and showcase diverse elements of South Australia's agricultural and regional landscape. I am also pleased to see some of the towns making the finalist list for the second or third time in addition to the two new entries.

Approximately a third of the state's population live in our regional areas. AgTown of the Year not only recognises our primary producers but highlights the importance of the communities that support them. The award is a way of giving thanks for everything agriculture and everything that our regions contribute to South Australia, including adding more than $29 billion to the state's economy every year. Well done to the finalists, and I look forward to the announcement on 4 November.