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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-27 Daily Xml
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TRADE MISSIONS TO ITALY

The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (15:00): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Industry and Trade a question about trade missions to Italy.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER: From time to time, the South Australian government takes trade missions and displays to various trade fairs in countries where there are opportunities for us to build trade, particularly in exports. Last week, The Advertiser ran an article that stated that Mr Foley will lead just such a mission for the second year in a row to the Fiera del Levante in Puglia, Italy.

My information is that the South Australian contingent last year cost at least $500,000 and, with consultancy fees and wages included, the cost was probably closer to $1 million, yet my research shows that the whole of Australia—not just South Australia—does only $1.7 billion of trade to Italy and imports about $4.8 billion. South Australian trade with Italy is virtually nil. Not only that, but there are only 4 million people in all of Puglia, which is quite a poor region at the 'heel of the boot'.

Also, Puglia's major products mirror our own. They are olives, grapes, cereal, almonds, figs and livestock; and its minor manufacturing includes iron, steel, and processed food and wine—hardly, then, a place where South Australia has major trading opportunities. My questions are:

1. Why has the government chosen for two years in a row to target Puglia as a major trade destination? Does it have anything to do with the fact that the Premier spent his honeymoon there and has family connections there?

2. How much will this year's mission cost in total?

3. How many and what businesses will be attending?

4. Is this trade mission being funded from the Market Access Program and, if not, why not? If not, where will it be funded from?

The PRESIDENT: It should not cost a lot if they are all staying with family.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (15:03): In the twilight of her career, the Hon. Caroline Schaefer is being given the bucket job by members of the Leader of the Opposition's staff.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Yes. One would have thought that the Hon. Rob Lucas would be much more appropriate for that task; he has much more experience in it. This government undertakes trade missions to many places. One could go through the benefits of trade with Italy. I know that we do export a number of things; for example, in terms of produce, onions is one of our significant exports to Italy. Also, Italy is a very significant supplier of food processing equipment. It is very important, as much of our food processing equipment is manufactured in Italy.

So, there are significant benefits from having a two-way trade and, of course, we do have a significant Italian population within this state. The Italian Chamber of Commerce, as some members would be aware, is one of the most active and effective chambers of commerce. I am sure that, in addition to any trade mission to Italy, there will be a number of others, including to China, Asia, India and other developing markets all around the world. If the Treasurer, as Minister for Industry and Trade, has anything further to add, I will invite him to do so.

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