Legislative Council: Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Contents

Primary Produce Exports

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Regional Development and Primary Industries about the regions.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: South Australia is exporting a lot of wines and fresh produce from our regions, and they are calling for the federal and state governments to streamline Australia's trade system to ease pressures on our supply chains and make it cheaper for Australian exporters. There is a Trade System Industry Advisory Council being established nationally to bring together industry leaders in ports, airports, shipping, logistics, trade finance, technology, and imports and exports to provide strategic advice and engagement on the Simplified Trade System reform agenda. My questions to the minister are:

1. What submission has the state government provided to the federal government to advocate for a better trade system for South Australian primary producers and exporters?

2. Can the minister inform us whether any of the board members on the Trade System Industry Advisory Council are from South Australia?

3. If there are representatives from South Australia, can the minister please inform the chamber who they are and how they are selected to be on the industry advisory council?

4. If there are no representatives from South Australia, then why not?

5. Will the minister advocate for an SA representative to ensure that South Australia has a strong voice on the council and that our regional producers and exporters are not missing out on tabling the issues that impact on the supply chains from South Australia?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for her question. Her question relates to the Trade System Industry Advisory Council and the trade system more generally. I will refer it to the Minister for Trade in the other place and bring back a response.