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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-06 Daily Xml
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WINE INDUSTRY

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:53): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about the wine industry in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: As members would be aware, food and wine are key to South Australia's prosperity, and the food and wine sectors contribute $16 billion in revenue annually to the local economy. Can the minister tell the chamber about a recent development for South Australia relating to wine?

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) (14:54): I thank the honourable member for her important question. As members would know, the Jay Weatherill government has identified premium food and wine as one of our key priorities. Not only do we produce excellent offerings from our clean environment but also food and wine is an integral part of our identity in our state. As the Hon. Carmel Zollo points out, it is a very important economic driver, contributing about $16 billion in revenue each year, and employs about 150,000 people across the industry, so it is very important to our future.

As I know members are aware, many of Australia's great iconic wines come from South Australia and our many wonderful regions, for which we are highly renowned, like the Barossa, Clare, Adelaide Hills, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale—the list goes on. I am absolutely delighted to advise the chamber that Wine Australia, the national agency responsible for providing strategic support to the wine industry, has announced that Adelaide will host the global Australian wine forum from 15 to 18 September this year.

It is an inaugural forum, known as Savour, and will see hundreds of national and international delegates here in Adelaide. We anticipate possibly 800 delegates, including retailers, sommeliers, distributors, top Australian winemakers, journalists and other captains of the industry and wine and lifestyle media. Although it is a national conference, it is encouraging a number of international visitors. We certainly want it to reflect the entirety of what Australia has to offer in terms of food and wine and, as the host, we will have a unique opportunity to show these very influential delegates our very best food and wine against the backdrop of our unique tourism offerings.

The forum will also include a dinner showcasing our wonderful South Australian food and wine to delegates. The event has been won for the state through two of our key agencies—the South Australian Tourism Commission and Primary Industries and Regions South Australia—working together. They will obviously continue to work together through the coming months with Wine Australia and Tourism Australia to ensure that the state makes the most of this really valuable opportunity.

Savour will generate long-term benefits for the state by showcasing our premium food and wine, our lifestyle and our wine region tourism destinations. The bid to host the forum was a direct strategy supporting the state government's priority of premium food and wine from our clean environment. The vision of the government is to see global recognition of South Australia for its premium food and wine. Having Adelaide host this significant conference is a real feather in our cap, I have to say, and also a wonderful opportunity for us to spread the word about our quality South Australian produce.

Although we are of course already well known for our food and wine, it is my hope that this forum will bring even greater national and international recognition. It certainly fits very well, recognising that South Australia is indeed the wine capital of Australia, and of course that vision fits very well with the goals of our global Australian wine forum to experience the new era of quality Australian wine, in particular Adelaide, where important research work is carried out for the Australian wine industry. Obviously, the state government looks forward to hosting this very important inaugural event in Adelaide.

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