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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-09-10 Daily Xml
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Adjournment Debate

BAROSSA VALLEY

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (16:45): I rise with pleasure for the first time in this session, and I look forward to the 18 months ahead of us. Many in the house would be aware that I believe I have the best electorate not only in the state but also in Australia. With great wine, beautiful food and friendly people, the Barossa Valley is definitely an asset to this state—and I note that the minister visited and addressed a meeting there not very long ago.

The Barossa Valley strengthens the state's economy and provides South Australia with a world-renowned tourism destination thanks to the fantastic wine produced in the region. It is also a great place in which to do business. This was reflected earlier this year when one of the many wineries, Barossa Valley Estate Ltd, was selected as a venue for the South Australian stage of the Australian Idol auditions to take place, ahead of several Adelaide metropolitan venues.

It is obviously not only me who believes that the Barossa is special: so does the company responsible for the production of Australian Idol, Fremantle Media. In a letter written to me, the General Manager of Barossa Valley Estate Ltd, Ms Christine Hahn, said:

The staff of the production company Fremantle Media commented on how much they enjoyed their time in the Barossa Valley and that they would like to use the facilities of Barossa Valley Estate again.

This is an example of how the Barossa can attract national and even international standard business by providing high quality facilities and service. As I said, the minister visited the region and we opened a new business precint, a first for the Barossa; a business incubator all within itself. I think the minister certainly paid credit to the region as well.

That is not the only example of the Barossa Valley's attracting big business. The producer of McLeod's Daughters, Millennium Television, filmed many of the episodes in the Barossa Valley region. In fact, one of the main cast members, Simmone Jade McKinnon, highlighted her love for the region by purchasing a 32-hectare working stud farm on the outskirts of Williamstown, which is a beautiful place.

Simone first moved to the Barossa Valley region five years ago, when she started working on McLeod's Daughters, and she has not left. 'Why would I want to?' she said in an article that appeared in the Herald Sun in March this year, stating further:

I'm surrounded by rolling hills, boutique wineries and pubs with such incredible character and history. Plus I get to enjoy some of the state's best food and wine festivals. But despite that feeling of seclusion I'm only an hour from the city. The Valley is one of the most beautiful places in Australia.

And one could not say it better than that.

The ABC, which produces the show The Cook and the Chef, which we all watch with great interest, features our renowned Barossa chef Maggie Beer and the executive chief of the Hilton Hotel, Simon Bryant, has described the setting of the Barossa Valley as 'magnificent'.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Barossa Under the Stars is a leading, world-class musical event, which puts the Barossa Valley in South Australia in the international spotlight. Adrian Bohm Promotions is a concert promotion company that has been working in partnership with the Barossa Wine and Tourism Association since 1997 to bring national and international performers to the Barossa Valley for the annual concert. The promotion company has aided in bringing Sir Cliff Richard, Rod Stewart and Shirley Bassey to the region to perform concerts, along with many other big names. During Sir Cliff Richard's performance he paid tribute to the Barossa and its picturesque scenery, and said that his own vineyard patch in Portugal paled into insignificance when he toured the Barossa.

It seems that, although many people say that I am biased when it comes to the Barossa Valley, there are many who back me up, and the fact that large businesses are choosing to go and work there is a testament to our region. We have to be very careful that we do not destroy the wonderful ambience of our region.

However, it is not only businesses conducting their work in the Barossa that has aided the reputation of the Barossa but also the service provided by businesses to tourists and visitors to the area. The service provided by local businesses in the Barossa also in turn helps to lure more big business to the area. In December last year, the retired Liberal whip from Western Australia and his wife enjoyed a holiday in the Barossa and highly commended the region.

Mr Bradshaw made particular note of the service he and his wife received when they visited the Barossa Wine and Tourism Association, saying:

The staff were very helpful and we came away with a stack of brochures on sites to see, where to stay and where to eat in the area. The whole experience was extremely enjoyable. We found the accommodation good; the food excellent; and the staff at all the shops, the tourism bureau, wineries, restaurants and accommodation venues very friendly and helpful.

This comes from a person who frequents Margaret River in Western Australia. It was certainly praise, indeed. He said that, above all, it was the people of the Barossa who impressed him most. Wonderful.

People might say that I am parochial and biased toward the Barossa—and I unashamedly am, I am very proud to represent this area, particularly as an outsider coming from the north. The electoral redistribution has done me a favour, as I would never have had the honour of representing it otherwise. The evidence speaks for itself: not only do we make some of the world's best wine and have great food and beautiful scenery but we can also attract big business, look after them and leave them hanging for a return visit.

Not a day goes by when I do not marvel at the wonderful region which I am honoured to represent, and none more so than last week. A Chilean film crew contacted my office and asked me to help with the arrangements to film a 'Steve Irwin' style documentary on Australian culture and wildlife. They wanted to film obviously in a vineyard—well, that was easy. They also wanted a bushland setting. That made it a little more difficult. To make it even harder, they wanted some kangaroos. I thought, hang on, I do not know anyone who has pet kangaroos. I did not know what we were going to do about that but we would do the best we could—come, we will fix it.

Thanks to Yalumba, which chose Heggies Vineyard—and if the minister has not been there, it is a beautiful place, right on top of the range—and which is right alongside the Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park. But kangaroos, well we might have to fluke a distant look. What happened? The film crew arrived at my office on time and they did the interview with mayor Hurn. We then went to Heggies Vineyard. It was an overcast and dull day, but what met us blew me away. It was a rather dull day when we arrived, but then the sun came out and the beautiful wattle and the trees in the adjoining conservation park created a beautiful scene, almost as if the sun was spotlighting the trees and the golden wattle. When I turned around, I saw a dozen kangaroos in the vineyard. I thought, wow, you can be lucky—and not only that but they sat there very contended—and it was a large group of kangaroos.

The film crew almost walked right up to them and they did not move. The film crew were beside themselves. They thought they might have seen one. We were even considering putting a stand-up picture of a kangaroo in the vineyard, but here they were, the real thing. The footage they shot was fantastic. They intended to shoot for 15 minutes but they shot 45 minutes of film in this vineyard, with the sun beating on the wattle, the bushland, the vineyard and the kangaroos. I say, 'How lucky can you be?' For anyone wanting to visit Heggies Vineyard not only does it produce good wine (especially the Heggies riesling which is beautiful) but it is in a beautiful setting. I pay tribute to Yalumba for allowing us to go there. It is very picturesque. I am sure, if you asked them, they would allow you to have a picnic there: it is absolutely a magnificent place.

Before sitting down, I make one comment because the minister is present. As the minister has been around the state, he knows that many of the crops in some parts of our state look pretty good, which is amazing on eight inches of rain in my area, particularly in the northern areas. The problem is that we are now coming to the longer, warmer days and the crops are not far enough advanced to finish. All I can say is that we hope for a rain. Not only my property but all properties in the north have prospects. With the high cost to farmers now for fuel, chemicals, fertiliser and everything else that goes with it, many of these farmers cannot take another year of zero or negative incomes.

Ms Breuer: He is only a minister, not God: he cannot make it rain!

Mr VENNING: You can be like me, you can hope. All we can do is hope. We do need another reasonable rain, say, 25 millimetres (the old one inch) across the state to get any sort of finish, otherwise many of these crops will die or will be cut for hay. We have not had a rain now north of Clare for the past five or six weeks. When we do, all we get is four or five points at the most. We are at crisis point. I hope for all farmers, not only this side but also on the West Coast, the Mallee and right across the state that we get a decent rain within a week. I know the minister would hope that, too—and that is not political. If ever we need a rain, it is now. Please God, 25 millimetres would be just great.

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