Wine Grapegrowers

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:42): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister tell the chamber about additional measures to support wine grapegrowers?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:42): I thank the honourable member for his question. Notwithstanding the significant and welcome decision by China to lift tariffs on Australian bottled wine, the state government of course understands that wine grapegrowers across the state continue to experience challenges owing to the oversupply of red wine grapes, and the challenge that, as has been mentioned, is both national and global.

This past weekend I met directly with groups of growers in the Riverland, which was continuing my program of meeting directly with growers to hear firsthand about the challenging market conditions and the impact of global consumer trends. These discussions build on the feedback and conversations with wine grapegrowers and industry bodies over many months now, during what has been a difficult period for the industry and the communities that make up part of our wine regions.

I have already outlined today the various facets of assistance and programs that are in place, looking at the national approach, looking at the re-engagement with China, and looking at things such as the Ethephon trial. But to assist on a short-term basis with the ongoing challenging conditions, and to assist individual businesses and red wine grapegrowers to navigate their way through these impacts, the state government is providing additional grant funding to Rural Business Support, funding that will provide direct financial support to impacted red wine grapegrowers.

Through the Rural Business Support relief fund, grants of up to $1,500 will be made to eligible applicants to accommodate routine costs. This grant will be provided in conjunction with business financial guidance. This support is one measure that aims to alleviate, in a small way, the stress for grapegrowers who have felt the impacts of the significant market disruption in recent years and be able to ensure that they can have the ability to make the decisions about their businesses going forward.

A further $60,000 in funding is also being provided to Rural Business Support to increase rural financial counselling services for the wine and viticulture industries. These announcements build on other support available to grapegrowers, which includes the commonwealth Farm Household Allowance, Rural Financial Counselling Service and PIRSA's Family and Business Mentors.

I have already mentioned the Ethephon trial and the viticulture and wine sector working group. I think it is important to note that that group is comprised of representatives from the commonwealth, state and territory governments, as well as national grape and wine industry organisations, namely, Wine Australia and Australian Grape and Wine.

Just to provide a little bit of additional information on that group, the viticulture and wine sector working group has now met several times, including in the Riverland, Griffith and Mildura, and heard from grapegrowers, wine businesses, grape and wine industry organisations and other stakeholders. The working group will report back to agricultural ministers on the situation and potential measures to assist regional wine industries to manage the immediate financial challenges. Actions to support improvement in the sector will be proposed at the next agricultural ministers' meeting.