Royal Adelaide Show

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Martin will be heard in silence.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: That includes you, Attorney-General.

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN: My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister please inform the chamber about initiatives taken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions at the 2023 Royal Adelaide Show to promote the importance of South Australian primary production industries?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for his question and also his ongoing support of primary industries and the excellent work that happens at the Royal Adelaide Show in terms of bringing the regions to the city.

I might just mention that, unfortunately, due to having had COVID over the last couple of weeks, it was a big disappointment to me that I was unable to attend the Royal Show this year, because it's something that is certainly a highlight of the calendar for primary industries. I think I had—I am not quite sure—five or six different events that I was going to be attending, which I was very much looking forward to, and unfortunately I wasn't able to attend any of them. However, I am sure that's the least of what people have had concerns around when COVID has been hitting them. A lot of people have had it far worse than me.

It is a very important question the member has put, though, because primary production does form such an integral part of the South Australian economy. In the 2021-22 financial year, agriculture and agribusinesses generated revenue of $17.3 billion for our state. These sectors now represent 51 per cent of South Australia's merchandise exports. Where better to highlight the character and quality of our primary producers than at the Royal Adelaide Show. As the new Chief Executive of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia, Will Rayner, has expressed:

Where else but the Show would you get to experience agricultural activities, animal encounters, competitions and rural skill exhibitions all sitting side by side with a vibrant carnival atmosphere.

For this year's show, PIRSA, in collaboration with the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia, moved away from a static stand and instead created an interactive space. Aggie's Farm transformed a large portion of the Stirling Angas Hall into a child-sized working farm, which taught two to 10 year olds about agriculture, from crop to shop.

This free activity took children through a series of stations, including a faux chicken coop, apple orchard, beehive, and strawberry and potato patches, from which children foraged for produce that they then exchanged for farm dollars at a faux farmers' market. From there, the farm dollars were exchanged for an animal keyring, which could be painted at a nearby craft station. This innovative and interactive display allowed young children to see, touch and feel the cycle that brings food to their homes and drives our agricultural industries.

I am pleased to advise the chamber that early estimates place the number of visitors through this lively display at around 10,000 people per show day. I commend PIRSA and the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia for their creative work in bringing this concept to life. I would like to point out, as I mentioned, that it was a free activity. One of the wonderful benefits of the Royal Adelaide Show is, once you have paid to get in there, there are so many free activities. Those that promote our horticultural and agricultural industries and our regional industries are certainly among them, and I commend all of those who have been involved in it.