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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-02-15 Daily Xml
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AUSTRALIAN YEAR OF THE FARMER

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:44): I seek leave to make a personal explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about the Year of the Farmer.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: A personal explanation?

The PRESIDENT: I brief explanation, I think.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: Yes, a brief explanation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: As a member of the council, I am aware that some professions do not get the attention or accolades they deserve; indeed, some fields of endeavour are unsung, despite their importance to the community. One such occupation is farming. Can the minister inform the house about the activities planned for 2012, the Year of the Farmer?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:44): I thank the honourable member for his most important question, and I have the pleasure of meeting many people and the great privilege of representing the whole state and not just a portion of it. Indeed, the great synergies generated by the various portfolios I hold mean that I, more than most, have an opportunity to visit quite a wide range of different parts of our wonderful state to see firsthand a range of endeavours.

Farming is certainly an iconic occupation in Australia and the source of much of our national mythology and pride, and also our economic prosperity and social prosperity. There are, of course, good reasons for this event, such as the 1890s shearers' strike which helped in the formation of the labour movement—

The PRESIDENT: Hear, hear!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: That is right, sir—and inventions such as the stump-jump plough which have kept us at the forefront of agricultural development and, of course, farmers play a vital role in feeding and clothing all of us. The Australian Year of the Farmer 2012 is a year-long celebration in recognition of this very vital role.

It is an Australia-wide event to celebrate the contribution of farming in Australia run by a private company with a board of directors sourced from across the country with a variety of agricultural backgrounds. This event aims to raise our consciousness and recognise the contribution which farmers make to sustain our way of life and economy. Agriculture has always played a key role in Australia's prosperity, and I understand that each year farm and farm-related industries inject more than $405 billion into our economy. That is 27 per cent of Australia's GDP.

Farm Facts 2011, published by the National Farmers' Federation, lists South Australia as having 12,868 farms and that our three largest commodities by gross dollar value are wheat at $618 million, fruits and nuts (excluding grapes) at $504 million, and vegetables at $476 million. As well as the contribution to GDP, farming and agricultural activities have helped create our rural and regional communities.

Infrastructure such as roads, ports and jetties were often originally created to support farming activity so that produce could be delivered and transported to market for sale. Regional towns have sprung up to service the needs of outlying properties to supply the groceries to support shearers' significant calorific requirements and to supply farmers with seed, farm machinery, medical services and schools. It is a proud history, and the development and progress of agriculture in South Australia is set to be showcased in an updated website during the year.

PIRSA is the administrative arm of the South Australian government working most closely with the agricultural sector. It will also be promoting the role of farmers through its internal and external communications throughout the year. It is working with a range of partners, including Adelaide City Council and the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society, to develop feature events that will be held in the heart of Adelaide in Rundle Mall. These events will be able to point to the myriad ways in which farming and farmers touch and enhance our lives, whether through fibres such as wool, or food such as flour and wheat for pasta, or fruit and vegetables, and of course our grape and wine production.

This year I am advised that the Australian Year of the Farmer Ltd has confirmed that it will conduct a range of roadshow events in South Australia, including some at other iconic rural life and agricultural shows from Kangaroo Island, Angaston, Maitland, Mount Barker, Kapunda—there are a number. These events, like the recent advertising feature on agricultural careers in The Advertiser, will help to highlight the wide range of careers and opportunities for young people in this diverse industry.

My agency will partner with the Agricultural Societies Council of South Australia to help promote the role of young farmers and their participation in agricultural shows through the Rural Ambassador Awards. These awards, which are expected to attract entrants from country shows and rural associations lead to state finals, before a male and female rural ambassador winner is then chosen at the Royal Adelaide Show in September 2012.

I am advised that our farmers are amongst the best and most efficient in the world. This is one of the greatest stories never told and I hope that this will get the message out. This cohort of farmers is very good at what they do and we all benefit from this productivity and innovation. Obviously members in this place are very aware that farming is not an easy occupation, and certainly in recent times, with the succession of droughts and then floods, for a lot of those on the land it has not been easy, not to mention the locusts, mice and goodness knows what else.

Despite these tribulations, I can report that in my interactions with those on the land, the farming communities remain strong and very resilient. I have commented previously in this place on that resilience but it is a quality that should never be taken for granted. Obviously we have recently had a food scorecard and the statistics help to demonstrate the importance of agricultural and horticultural sectors not only to South Australia and our regional communities but to the nation as a whole. I clearly commend the Year of the Farmer 2012 to the chamber.

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