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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-09-24 Daily Xml
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CHINA DELEGATION

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:08): Arising from the minister's answer. When the minister was in Hong Kong, did she attend a high-end dinner at a company, I think it was called Crown Wine Cellars, with a number of South Australian winemakers?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:08): I organised it. I took the winemakers there, and a number of those winemakers are at the high end of the Hong Kong wine industry. Hong Kong has now become the gateway of premium wine to the world. It has become so elevated internationally it has surpassed the UK in the movement of premium wine. It is the gateway. If we want to market and sell our premium wine, that is a key place for us to go and that is what I was doing there, with four of our key winemakers. I plan future trips as well with other winemakers to meet with key industry people. The people in this room were the high end of the wine industry.

These are huge retail outlets, big international hotels, the top end of town, and they are after the premium quality and clean credentials that Australia has to offer. I visited there in my trip before last. I was approached by the person who manages the place there, and he inquired as to whether I would be prepared to bring delegates over and he host the event and invite key industry people. I indicated that I was willing—and I delivered.

As I said, a number of those winemakers, wine producers, again, have already signed contracts with businesspeople, resulting from that particular forum. That is the place to be. I suggest that the Leader of the Opposition should be congratulating South Australia for being right there in the space where it should be and getting on the front foot, taking our industry people there, leading the way, and signing up international export contracts for our premium grade wine. Rather than snide innuendo, he should be congratulating me on these efforts.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I have a supplementary question.

The PRESIDENT: What, you're wondering where your invitation got to? The Hon. Mr Ridgway, you've got a further supplementary.

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