Premier's Horticulture Industry Awards for Excellence

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:17): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the council about the recent Premier's horticultural awards evening?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in the horticultural sector. I know he was prevented from attending this particular evening, but he has been very active in lots of areas of horticulture for a large number of years. I am delighted to provide an update about the event, which I note was also attended by the Hon. Reggie Martin and the Hon. Emily Bourke from this place, as well as the Hon. Nicola Centofanti and the Hon. Ben Hood, in addition to a number of members from both sides of politics from the House of Assembly, and also federal members.

Members on this side of the chamber—we are now on this side of the chamber—worked with the horticulture industry prior to the last election to develop a number of election commitments, unlike members opposite, who failed to release a single policy for the horticulture industry. One of these policies that we developed was an annual sponsorship package and rebranding of the event to become the Premier's horticultural awards dinner.

This was the second Premier's horticultural awards dinner, and I am advised that it has already grown from the first annual dinner, which is wonderful to hear. The event, which is run by AUSVEG SA—and I would like to thank CEO Jordan Brooke-Barnett and his team for their incredibly hard work in running this event—is an opportunity for South Australia's leading horticultural growers, researchers and industry leaders to come together and recognise excellence in the industry and celebrate the significant contribution the state's $3 billion horticulture sector makes.

In total, I understand that over 300 growers, researchers and industry leaders attended. South Australia is at the forefront of innovation and progress in areas such as the management of soil health, resource use efficiency, ag tech and biotechnology, and it was great to formally acknowledge this and celebrate it with industry.

While concerns have been raised with me about the plans by the federal opposition to slash migration levels and the impact of that policy on agricultural industry such as horticulture, it is clear that nevertheless the industry is resilient and will continue to grow. It is concerning that here in South Australia the opposition, and indeed the shadow minister, have remained tight lipped on their views about the policy, despite obvious concern from industry about the impacts that it would have.

Last year, the horticulture sector in South Australia had over $450 million in exports and over 4,000 businesses and employed 13,000 FTEs and 24,000 seasonal workers. Given the significant and impressive figures that the industry commands, it is only appropriate that the sector comes together to acknowledge and congratulate excellence within their industry.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate again the winners of the 2024 Premier's Excellence Awards in a range of different categories. They include: Frank Musolino from Musolino Farms, Grower of the Year; Jack Cafcakis from Cafcakis Nominees, who was named the Young Grower of the Year; Joe Giangregorio from Rainbow Fresh, the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Dr Anita Marquart from Biological Services, the Industry Impact Award. The Researcher of the Year was Dr Doris Blaesing from RMCG. The Women in Horticulture Award was won by Alecia Leav of PN Leav Produce Pty Ltd, and the Biosecurity Award was won by Paul Pezzaniti from Platinum Ag Services.

These winners are now nominated as the AUSVEG state-endorsed nominees for their respective categories at the national Horticulture Awards for Excellence, held during Hort Connections 2024, which is occurring this week in Melbourne. I think all members in this place would wish the South Australian nominees all the very best for the national awards event.