Legislative Council: Thursday, December 01, 2022

Contents

Wine Industry

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries about winery support programs.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Yesterday, the minister was asked if she would stand by a response that she tabled in this place on 2 November regarding programs that supported the wine industry and whether they had ceased. The minister undertook to 'go back and have a look at the Hansard and see whether there is anything that needs to be corrected'. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has she now looked at Hansard?

2. Does she stand by her response tabled in this place on 2 November?

3. Was it accurate?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:49): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am very pleased to be able to clarify these matters. I am advised that the state government has not ceased any wine industry specific support programs and there is no inconsistency, as was suggested in this place yesterday. I am further advised that the programs listed by the Minister for Trade and Investment in the Auditor-General's Report examination on 15 November 2022 are general programs that operate across many sectors, they are not specifically wine industry support programs.

I am advised that the state government continues to support the wine industry and delivers programs and outcomes under the Wine Export Recovery and Expansion Program through the Department for Trade and Investment. On 28 September 2022, in an answer to a question on notice tabled in this place, advice was provided on a range of other wine industry initiatives that this government has undertaken. I am further advised that since that time there have been several Wine Ambassadors Club events launched and promoted in order to promote South Australian wine in target markets around the world.