Project 250

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries a question about Project 250.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: In parliament on 27 September, the minister outlined the virtues of Project 250, saying:

…the South Australian government has a formal partnership with the South Australian Wine Industry Association, which is supported by a $1 million commitment over the next four years. The funding, referred to as Project 250, is the first year of a four-year commitment given by the government to this critical industry for our state.

On the South Australian Wine Industry Association website, the same project is touted as funding of $250,000 per year until 2022. That means that it would have started in 2018 and is now finishing in 2022. Can the minister confirm:

1. Funding has been extended to 2026 to the South Australian Wine Industry Association for Project 250?

2. Can she name any new programs that the government has begun in the first six months that support the wine industry?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for her question. She is correct in that the South Australian government does have a formal partnership with the South Australian Wine Industry Association, and it is supported by a $1 million commitment over the next four years from PIRSA.

I am advised that this is the fourth version of a partnership to support the wine industry that was first signed in 2010. The funding is referred to as Project 250 and it is in the first year of that four-year commitment given by the government, because after all this is a critical industry for our state. The industry and market development program includes a range of activities that will support business skills development and ongoing business improvements of South Australian winery businesses.

Project 250 will also support initiatives at a state or regional level that continue to improve the capability and capacity of the wine industry across a range of areas, from viticulture to customer service. There are seven wine industry funds as part of the primary industry's funding scheme that support regional wine associations' membership and program delivery: the Riverland, Clare Valley, Barossa, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Adelaide Hills and the Wine Grape Council of South Australia. This program delivered over $5 million in contributions back to support industry-led initiatives in the last financial year.

Premium food and wine is at the fore of this government's focus, and it remains one of the state's leading exports. Last year, we exported over $6 billion worth of food and beverage, an increase of 19.2 per cent over the past year. Based on that figure, South Australian exports are 13.3 per cent of the nation's food and beverage produce.

Our state is the food bowl of the nation and has become a recognised global province synonymous with premium food and beverages. The South Australian government continues to support the wine sector through a period of change and diversification following global events, along with opportunities through the Wine Export Recovery and Expansion Program. This program supports South Australian wine exporters to diversify into new markets and grow sales and will include opportunities that support exporters in developing and emerging markets.

We continue to support exporters through our TradeStart program, delivered in partnership with Austrade. TradeStart provides South Australian exporters with a team of specialist export advisers located across metropolitan Adelaide and also regional South Australia. In addition to these programs, earlier this year the state government launched an international network of ambassadors for the state's leading wine producers so our wines have the best possible exposure in both established and emerging markets, which is already yielding positive export outcomes.

I must say it was a bit disappointing to see the opposition taking some pot shots recently in the media about international trade missions, especially those in the emerging wine markets, such as Japan and South Korea. The government is confident that its program, which includes a premium food and wine focus and partnering with the federal trade minister on the state's Japanese and South Korean mission, will highlight to the world South Australia's offerings and open new opportunities in each market.

Having supported businesses to attend London Wine Week and ProWine Mumbai later this month—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the two leaders! Go outside if you want to have a chat.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —along with other events in South-East Asia and North America being scheduled, we look forward to our continued support and advocacy for growers and exporters alike. Of course, much of this is within the domain of my colleague the Minister for Trade and Investment. I can certainly provide additional information from him if required, but one of the things that was achieved on the recent South Korean trip was that South Australia's premium wines will now hit the shelves of South Korea's largest and most established luxury department store chain, Shinsegae, as part of a new distribution campaign launching in the Asia-Pacific region.

The minister also met with Japanese importers in Tokyo to launch the Japan chapter of the South Australian Wine Ambassadors Club (SAWAC). He joined them also in a masterclass seminar, tasting a selection of South Australia's leading classic and curio wines. That ambassadors club was established by the state government in July as part of the four-year Wine Export Recovery and Expansion Program to drive export growth and market diversification by creating an international network of advocates.

They are just some of the actions being taken to try to support this very important industry, which is going through a challenging time at the moment. I am very pleased that this state government is so keen and focused on this aspect of our economy.