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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-17 Daily Xml
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ITALIAN CONSULATE

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (16:50): I move:

That this council—

1. Strongly urges the Italian government to reconsider its decision to close the Adelaide Consulate in light of the important role it plays in promoting the cultural, social and economic relationship between South Australia and Italy; and

2. Urges the commonwealth government to lobby the Italian government to change its decision to close the Adelaide Consulate.

Yesterday, the Premier made a ministerial statement in the other place in relation to the proposed closure of the Italian Consulate in Adelaide. This proposed closure was included in a ministerial decree in the Italian national parliament in Rome announcing that a number of Italian consulates around the world, including Adelaide, would be closed. This is a decision which will be hard-fought by the Italo-Australian community in this state.

I understand this announcement followed a joint sitting of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of both the Italian Senate and the House of Deputies on 10 June. It is understood that the move to close a considerable number of consulates was a rationalisation or cost-cutting initiative. I am told that, given the announcement that came about via ministerial decree, the matter is not one that is likely to be debated in the Italian parliament.

I could be accused of being biased because I am Italian born and part of the history of migration to this country post-World War II. I am part of that very large group of migrants whose poignant history is now, I believe, a very important part of the multicultural tapestry of the state. With some 100,000 people of Italian origin it is the largest ethnic group in this state, so I believe the motion is relevant to many.

The Italian Consulate plays an important leadership role in the provision of services to those of Italian heritage, whether it is in the area of culture, trade or social relations between South Australia and Italy. As described by the Premier yesterday, an active and energised Italian Consulate has been an integral part of our community for many decades, and central to many local Italian community activities.

I understand that there has been speculation that this rationalisation of closing a number of consulate offices will save the Italian government about €8 million a year from 2011. I believe this saving is shortsighted. Apart from the normal diplomatic services offered in any overseas post, the Italian Consulate in South Australia supports, involves and promotes the community and services offered to the Italo-Australian community.

Since my election to parliament I have had the opportunity to work with four consuls. All have been young and full of commitment to the vibrant community that they have found here, and they are strongly supported by their staff. I know that some have been instrumental in furthering the unity of the community in relation to services for the aged, and, more recently, Consul Tommaso Coniglio has promoted the setting up of an energised youth group in South Australia. I am also aware that he is hoping to see even further unity and has some plans that he wants to discuss with both the government and the opposition.

I could not think of a worse time to go ahead with this closure. If we look at the area of aged care, it is at just this time that those who made their leap of faith post-World War II are looking for extra support. The aged of Italian heritage are entering a period of high and rising demand for these services, and common sense tells us that this will be with us for another generation.

I appreciate that on the surface there is a high level of integration in Australian society, but English-language capacity amongst the aged is low, and it is a major source of concern. The 2006 census found that some 45 per cent of aged Italian-Australians do not speak English or do not speak it well. I should also place on record that the proportion of aged in the Italian community is higher than that of any other national ethnic group in Australia—and, as is to be expected, South Australia has its fair share. None of us would be surprised to learn that, in Australia, Italian is the second most spoken language in the home after English.

The belief that one cannot fully understand a culture without knowing its language is something that the consuls themselves have personally strongly supported and promoted. The support is also financial and comes via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Italy in the form of considerable funding—to the tune of between €150,000 and €250,000 in some years—and the consulate has an education office and an officer attached to its staff, such is the importance placed on language. The funding received from the Italian government primarily promotes the teaching of the Italian language and culture and, whilst this is mainly for the children of Italian migrants in Australia, it is obligatory for courses to be open to students of all backgrounds—as it should be.

The teaching of language is of the utmost importance, and the dissemination of the majority of the funds on behalf of the Italian government in South Australia is through the Centro Didattico Italiano, or the Italian Didactic Centre. The Centro organises, at its premises and in numerous schools, Italian courses for all age groups and scholastic levels. It also plays an important role in the professional development of teachers of Italian in South Australia. Through its resource centre the Italian Didactic Centre supplies multimedia and study materials for teachers and the general public.

The Didactic Centre, as well as being a school of languages, offers curricular courses for students who wish to study Italian to the final matriculation year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via the Italian Consulate office, also promotes the teaching of the Italian language in our three major Adelaide universities through the work of several Italian teachers. The work of the education office attached to the consulate is something that should not be sacrificed. The commitment is extraordinary.

For several years now a memorandum of understanding has been renewed between the South Australian government and the Italian government. I am told that about 12,000 students study Italian language and culture in 66 government schools. As well, around 300 students study Italian at two ethnic schools. In short, none would doubt the commitment of both governments to the promotion of the Italian language, and having an Italian consul here in South Australia to help drive the agenda is essential.

The role of the Italian consuls in South Australia has been pivotal in this journey. Dr Tommaso Coniglio and the Minister for Education and Children's Services in the other place signed a new memorandum of understanding just a week or so ago, and I was pleased to assist with the liaison in the setting up of the first memorandum. It is the second and subsequent generations of people with Italian heritage who will, I believe, be strongly disadvantaged without the support of a committed consulate office in South Australia to further promote the Italian language.

At parliamentary level, the ties between the two countries continue to grow. Members may be aware that the member for Light in the other place has, in the past few years, established the Australia-Italia MP Forum. The key objective of this forum is to promote and strengthen cultural, educational and economic ties between Australia and Italy. In particular, the forum seeks to strengthen the relationship between Italo-Australians and Italians; and it seeks to work with existing forums and associations. During this parliament alone, South Australia is fortunate to have six serving members of parliament of Italian heritage—indeed, eight, if we include those of part Italian heritage.

In relation to commerce, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in South Australia is a very active and successful one. It has won the international chamber of the year in South Australia three years in a row: 2004, 2005 and 2006. Whilst its funding is primarily sourced through the Italian international trade ministry, it is strongly supported by the consulate. The difference between imports and exports to Italy may be somewhat uneven, but it does not take away from the hard work and vision that the chamber demonstrates in assisting to find (often) niche markets for our products. The economic outcomes from ICCI (as it is known) supported missions in 2008 is estimated to be $21 million in the areas of building materials, electrical, fresh produce—food and wine.

Just as an example, I had the opportunity, whilst leading a delegation to the Rural Women's Conference in Spain in 2002, to also visit the Milan markets, along with the chief executive officer of Adelaide Produce Markets. I was also the convenor of the Premier's Food Council at that time. South Australia has had some successes in seasonal exports of fruits. The Vegetable and Fruit Market of Milan is the largest in Europe in terms of goods handled and is characterised by a wide range of products available year round, capable of satisfying a great variety of customers. It also plays a leading role in the distribution of fruit and vegetable products in Italy and other EU countries, to which it exports about 20 per cent of the million tonnes of fruit and vegetable sold each year. The market management appreciated our clean and green credentials, and I am certain that this is an area that South Australia will continue to pursue.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) actively promotes trade between South Australia and Italy. Some other examples of South Australian companies exporting to Italy include: Almondco Australia, Coopers Brewery, San Remo, Minelab Electronics and Henschke Cellars. The benefits of having an Italian consulate office in South Australia that works strongly with ICCI are obvious. The benefits range from increased job creation for South Australian companies to the establishment of protocols and MOUs with other markets.

I also acknowledge that delegation visits between our two countries is something that the consulate is always prepared to facilitate or assist with, whether it is at the ministerial level or by way of a group of scientists or other professionals interested in an exchange of views and knowledge. More recently, a delegation from the 'Campania Regional Competence Centres' visited Adelaide in April. The objective of that visit was to stimulate longer term relationships and technological transfer between interests and industry in South Australia and Campania, as well as promote opportunities for research, trade and economic development with Europe, in particular the areas of agrifood innovative materials for industrial application and biotechnology.

South Australia has a sister-state agreement with the Italian region of Campania, which was signed in 1990. We now also have one with the Puglia region. The roles of the Italian consulate and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the facilitation of these initiatives with the Italian regions are so very important.

Several years ago, as minister for emergency services, I had the opportunity to visit the Civil Protection (Protezione Civile) headquarters in Rome. The visit was facilitated by the Italian consulate office and included an opportunity to see and discuss the national fire response arrangements and the role of volunteers in the Italian emergency services sector. More recently, the consulate facilitated the visit to the centre for two emergency services personnel who happened to be in Europe at that time.

I was not surprised to see images of a well ordered response to the recent earthquake which, unfortunately, shook the Abruzzo region of Italy. I know that all agreed with the strong support the South Australian government provided to the earthquake relief efforts. Financially, the South Australian government has committed around $200,000 to the appeal. The appeal closed last Saturday, and I was pleased to support the community at the closing function.

Last night, the Committee of Italians Abroad held a meeting at Punto Italia. Punto Italia was recently opened by the Premier and the newly appointed Italian ambassador to Australia. It is a hub for Italian cultural and social services—a reference point for the wider community covering areas of social welfare, education, culture, women and youth. The president of Com.It.Es (Committees of Italians Abroad) chaired the meeting and representatives from Co.AS.IT, the Italian Chamber of Commerce, the Dante Alighieri Society, It.sa Italian Culture for Youth and Australia Donna were present. Also present was a representative of CGIE, the Council General of Italians Abroad. All expressed their strong disappointment and concern at the proposed announced closure and agreed to a plan of action. The government shares the concern of the community.

In all its workings, the consulate office works hard to assist private citizens, as well as at the bureaucratic and government levels, in our interactions with all things Italian. Such a proposed closure would be short-sighted indeed. What an incredible inconvenience it would be for people in South Australia to have their consular needs serviced from Melbourne. Australia is a big country and distances can truly impact on disadvantaging people from accessing services. Again it will be the elderly who will be truly disadvantaged. Besides travel being difficult for them, they are not IT savvy either.

I believe governments of all persuasions in a bipartisan manner have amply demonstrated their commitment to the Italian community in this state and have always had an excellent working relationship with the consulate office. Our relationship with Italy has been reinvigorated in recent years. The Premier referred to these initiatives in his ministerial statement yesterday, and I will not repeat them. I understand that the office in Adelaide is one of two in Australia proposed for closure, and that it is likely to occur before the end of 2010. I know that many of the Italo-Australian community are up in arms, and I agree with the Premier that such a closure will be a blow to local Italian community affairs because of the central role the consulate plays.

I was born in the Campania region of Italy, and I know that the federation of that region, along with some 120 Italian associations, organisations and clubs in South Australia, ranging from welfare organisations and religious associations to recreation, sports and regional clubs, are none too impressed.

The next few weeks will see a strong campaign by the Italo-Australian community to try to dissuade the Italian government from closing the Italian consulate in Adelaide. This community has contributed so much to our state, and the government believes their needs should be paramount in the considerations of the Italian government.

An identical motion will be moved in the other place tomorrow, and all indications are that both chambers will be supportive of it. I look forward to members' contributions, and I urge them all to support this motion in order that this chamber sends a strong message, via the federal government, on behalf of the Italo-Australian community of this state that they do not want to see this proposed closure to come to fruition. It is indeed a backward step. I reiterate the Premier's words, as follows:

In addition to normal consular functions involving migration, visas and passports the Italian Consulate has been very much the hub of the community for trade, social welfare, community services to the elderly and cultural and language activities…

To proceed with the closure of the consulate would be a body blow to the Italian community, who have contributed so much to our state, and would have a detrimental impact on the range of services that are coordinated by the consulate.

I believe that the Italo-Australian community deserve to be treated better than have their consular office shut down. I have purposely used the Italo-Australian community because this proposed closure would affect not just those who have maintained their Italian citizenship. The majority of Italians would have lost their ability to maintain dual citizenship when taking up Australian citizenship because of the Italian laws applying at that time. I know that many, if not all, would have proudly preferred dual citizenship.

The proposed closure of the consulate office in Adelaide affects those people—around 100,000 who have Italian heritage—just as much as those who have Italian citizenship. Again, I look forward to the support of honourable members for this motion.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (17:10): On behalf of Family First, I rise to give very strong support to the Hon. Carmel Zollo's motion. It is a very important motion, and I hope that the Italian government will, as a result of this initiative and others being put forward by our government and the parliament, reconsider this decision. I appreciate that at the moment Italy is in the same situation as Australia in regard to the impact of the global financial crisis, but now is not the time to close doors on opportunities for the future. We should be capitalising on not only the great work that has been done by Italian migrants to South Australia over several generations but also on the great social and cultural and export and import opportunities that are doing well in South Australia and Italy.

However, I believe that these opportunities are still at an immature stage, and I put on the record a few I have noted. I was privileged to have been brought up with neighbours who came from Italy and who are now some of our closest friends. In fact, when some of them came to Australia, they could not speak any English at all, but they were very willing to become strong contributors to our state; indeed, today they are great viticulturists and farmers. My mother and I spent a lot of time teaching English to one neighbour. It was a really good experience for me, and it built a great relationship with that family as they became an integral part of South Australia.

I highlight a good friend of mine, Steve Maglieri, who came from Italy with only a few dollars in his pocket. In recent years, he has exported shiraz to Italy, where he has won gold medals. Another example is the Crotti family and what they have done to export their durum wheat pasta to Italy. In our farm shed, we have machinery with the badge, 'Made in Italy,' so the opportunities are a two-way street. As the Hon. Carmel Zollo said, we must also support those families who made the decision a long time ago to migrate from Italy to South Australia and build those connections.

I think I would be right in saying that the families who have been here the longest have been here for about only four generations, although it may be a little longer for some. Wherever you go, whether it be to the Riverland or Virginia, you see the opportunities they have created and their incredible impact on our state. On the other hand, I see great opportunities for Italy. My daughter has lived near Milan for several months and now speaks fluent Italian. Exchange students have come from Italy to stay with us in our home, and I think that the future augurs well for the relationship between South Australia and Italy in every capacity.

Another example I highlight is the importance of the Adelaide consulate just a few months ago when the tragedy of the devastating earthquake occurred north-east of Rome. The consulate played an important role, and it was great to see how quickly (supported by our Premier, I might say) an appeal fund for the victims was set up and a lot of integrated work initiated with the consulate.

These are just some of the reasons I think it would be shortsighted and unfortunate if money were to be withdrawn, resulting in the closure of the consulate. There are fantastic opportunities for relationships between Italy and Australia, as a nation, and South Australia, which has done so well through the opportunities we share. I believe that there will be a lot more opportunities for tourism and for economic, social and cultural development in the future. However, one of the important parts of that is to keep the door open, through the office of the consulate. On behalf of Family First, I commend and support this motion.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (17:15): I rise on behalf of the opposition to indicate that we are extremely happy to support the Hon. Carmel Zollo's motion calling on the Italian government to reconsider its decision to close the consulate and also calling on the commonwealth government to lobby the Italian government to revisit its decision.

As members would know, in the past two or three years, I have had quite a lot of involvement with the Italian community, being one of the Liberal Party's attendees at multicultural functions, in my role of assisting the shadow minister. I had very little multicultural exposure in my home town of Bordertown, where I knew of only two Italian families and one Greek family.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: What about getting on with it.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: We are talking about some 40-odd years ago, when I first started school, and I knew of these three families in the community. I have very fond memories of the Italians I knew back in Bordertown; unfortunately some of them barracked for the wrong football team. From a very early age, I have had a great interest in the Italian community. In my role of assisting the shadow minister for multicultural affairs, I have attended a range of functions. The Italian community is particularly important to South Australia. They have had an impact on our community across a range of areas, and we often talk about the impact the wonderful Italian food has had on our community.

At one of the functions I attended 12 to 18 months ago, one of the Italians said that they get a little annoyed about the focus only on their food and not on everything else they have contributed to our society. If you look at the business community, you will see that there are wonderful examples of very successful business people who were born in Italy but came to this country and worked extremely hard to build empires. I am aware that Terry Stephens knows some very successful business people in his home town of Whyalla who came from Italy and settled in this state. Those people made the brave decision to move to the other side of the world, and they have embraced this country as their own. They have worked very hard and been part of their own community and become part of our community.

We often become single minded in thinking that the great contribution the Italian community has made has been only in relation to food, but the Italian community has had an influence right across our community. They also have had an impact on sport and sporting events.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The Hon. Terry Stephens interjects with the name Mark Ricciuto. We could spend all day talking about the contribution made by people of Italian background. Of course, you also see people of Italian descent who have taken up a career in public life—and I look across at the Hon. John Gazzola and the Hon. Carmel Zollo. On this side of the chamber, we had the Hon. Julian Stefani, and in the other chamber we have David Pisoni, the member for Unley, and Tony Piccolo, the member for Light. So, the Italian influence on our community is as strong as ever.

When the tragic earthquake occurred earlier in the year, not just the Italian community but the whole South Australian community decided they wanted to put their hand in their pocket to help our friends on the other side of the world. I think this shows that this community has links with the Italian community both here and in Italy, and that has been serviced and fostered by having a consulate here in Adelaide. Certainly, the opposition has a view, which I think is shared by everyone in this place, that the closure of the consulate is a backward step. The Premier said yesterday that there were 14,000 people holding Italian passports and that around 100,000 South Australians are of Italian origin. So, it is a significant group of people. I am disappointed the Italian government has made this decision, which I am sure is a result of the global financial crisis we are facing.

I had the very good fortune to accompany the Hon. Jane Lomax-Smith to the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, in Europe. I was sitting next to an overseas Italian member of parliament. I do not recall his name, but I think he lives in Melbourne; he is an older gentleman. It intrigued me that the Italian government has these members of parliament all around the world. I am sure those members of parliament will not like my next comment, but I wonder whether the priority should be to keep the consulates open to support these communities and maybe not have so many overseas members of parliament. In the discussions we had over the long flight, I discovered that it is not cheap to fund members living on the other side of the world, and there are quite a number of them.

I hope the Italian government has its priorities right. We do not think that it has, and we strongly support the government's motion and strongly urge the Italian government to reconsider its decision and keep the consulate open here in Adelaide to support the community and the South Australian economy. I think it would provide some wonderful benefits, and we strongly support the motion and urge the Italian government to reconsider its decision.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. B.V. Finnigan.

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