Commercial Plant Trade

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding the commercial plant trade.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The Australian Financial Review reported last month on the retail plant and flower category as part of the current federal food and grocery code review. Greenlife Industry Australia in its submission accuses Bunnings of a 70 per cent stranglehold on the seedlings, native grasses, flowers and shrubs markets. Bunnings, owned by Wesfarmers and with an operating value in 2023 of approximately $18.5 billion in its own right, disputed this, saying that they have an overall market share of 'about 25 per cent'.

CEO Mike Schneider stated, 'There is strong competition across all segments.' This is refuted by Greenlife CEO Joanna Cave, noting that industry-led grower surveys over five consecutive years showed the stats differently to the Bunnings evidence, stating, 'We think growers are best placed to know. We are very confident that we have it right.' I have met with several nurseries over the past four years and spoken about common pinch points in the industry. My questions to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development are:

1. Has the minister recently engaged with growers in South Australia about their interactions and market position?

2. What are the industry's current concerns with market share and market availability here in South Australia?

3. What is the government doing to ensure that South Australian nurseries are afforded a fair go in the commercial plant trade?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:27): I thank the honourable member for her question. To the first question as to whether I have been engaging with the nursery industry, the answer is yes. I have had discussions since I became minister. I recall being at the annual dinner with the Hon. Tung Ngo for the Nursery Association, and that afforded, as well as the formalities, some informal discussion points. I will have to check my diary, but I know that I have also had some individual meetings.

The issue around market share in the economy we have is always something that is of particular interest and concern. We talk about, in the supermarket space, the ability of the very big supermarkets to influence a great deal through their market share, and the federal investigation into grocery pricing, as well as the inquiry that is happening here, all form part of that. It is fair to say that we are looking to have some positive outcomes, which might come from either of those two. I am always happy to engage further, acknowledging those things that are within state government control and those that are not. That concludes my answer on that.

I go back to the previous question the member asked in regard to fruit fly: she was asking for a number of pieces of information. I am advised that it is now five weeks since we offered the honourable Leader of the Opposition a briefing on these matters, which she has failed to take up. I would reissue that opportunity—

The Hon. N.J. Centofanti interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: No, that's not the case. We haven't had the answers. In fact, I have the dates here on which we reached out to the Leader of the Opposition's office without response.