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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
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SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FOREST INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (15:04): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about the South-East.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Last week, I was in Mount Gambier for a series of meetings with constituents, community groups and other local groups, where I had the opportunity to attend a couple of meetings with the minister and the mayor and CEO of both the City of Mount Gambier and the District Council of Grant.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Yes, I know. A lot of the constituents were very disappointed at the lack of interest in the area that the Liberal Party has shown for a decade or so, and a lot of people talked about how well served they had been by an Independent, compared to in the past. They have accused the Liberal Party of just drinking muscats at dawn in the Adelaide Club and not having any interest whatsoever in the area, and I had to agree with some of those assertions. However, can the minister inform the chamber of some of the other important meetings she attended while in Mount Gambier?

Members interjecting:

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) (15:05): There are some very nervous people sitting up the back there, very nervous. I thank the honourable member for his most important question and his ongoing interest and involvement in matters relating to the South-East, as well as other areas; however, he has a particular passion for the South-East.

During last week I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural, the first meeting—just in case those on the other side didn't understand the word 'inaugural'—of the South Australian Forest Industry Advisory Board. I addressed the new board, welcoming its contributions, and took the opportunity to outline my expectations of developing a blueprint for the future South-East forest and wood products industry. The board has been established to provide the government with advice and recommendations about the future strategic needs of the forest and forest products industry in this state.

I am very pleased to advise (as I have previously in this place) that Mr Trevor Smith has been appointed as chair. Trevor is well known in forestry industry circles and held in high regard within the industry. His skills and experience will be critical to the success of the board in delivering the industry change and renewal that will be needed. Additional membership includes: Ms Alison Carmichael, who is CEO of the Institute of Foresters Australia; Ms Jane Calvert, National President of the CFMEU, Forestry and Furnishing Products Division; Ms Shelley Dunstone, Principal, Legal Circles; Mr John Fargher, Managing Director of John Fargher and Associates; Ms Carolyn Pidcock, Director of PIDCOCK—Architecture + Sustainability; and Mr Ian McDonnell, Managing Director of N.F. McDonnell and Sons.

Each board member brings a high level of skill and experience to the board, and the role of the board is to provide the government with advice and recommendations about the future strategic needs of the forest and forest products industry in this state. This will include advice on emerging domestic and international opportunities to enhance the sustainable economic development of the forest-related industry in South Australia and the issues that are inhibiting the economic development of the industry, and advice regarding the transition of the forest and forest products sector to a creative, agile and globally competitive advanced manufacturing industry, which is obviously something that would be welcomed.

I believe the changes in the global economy present a unique opportunity to transform South Australia's forest products manufacturing sector to one that relies on design, innovation and new ideas for competitiveness, connecting our strengths in research and manufacturing to become leaders in new industries. I also expect the board to act as a high-level conduit between industry and the government, utilising expertise and networks to facilitate industry consultation and engagement regarding identified economic opportunities and challenges at both state and national levels.

The board will need to work in harmony with organisations and initiatives that aim to further industry development including the Cellulose Fibre Value Chain Study currently underway in the South-East, the government's $27 million South-East Forestry Partnerships Program, and relevant initiatives from the Limestone Coast Economic Diversification Forum, which is enabling the development of an overarching strategy for the region.

This region is the most significant location for the forest and forest product industry in South Australia, and as such, this board will obviously be a very important agent to direct the forest industry's specific needs of this initiative. The board will be able to build on the good work of the former forest industry development board and also the South-East forestry industry round table.

Both of those groups have now been disbanded, and I take this opportunity to thank its members and these former boards for the excellent work, hard work and commitment undertaken over the last few years. You have probably gleaned that the new board is a combination of members from the development board and the round table, plus some new people. So, we make sure that corporate knowledge is not lost and is connected into renewed activity.

Also on my visit to the South-East, I had the great pleasure of touring the Kraft Foods factory. It is an inspiring and amazing workplace, and obviously sets a very high standard for employment. The factory is amazingly neat and tidy and their communication on their activity is also quite remarkable.

Every employee is briefed at the beginning of every shift on not only what activities have occurred in the last 24 hours but also how that relates longitudinally, month by month, over longer periods of time, so they can see whether it is from industries, outputs, breakdowns or whatever, how they are comparing. This briefing includes safety, staff morale, production outputs, customer orders being met on time, power consumption and water usage. A wide range of those things are all monitored over a 24-hour period.

I can see exactly why people trust the safety and quality of Kraft products. The management team has obviously put in place very strong food safety and quality systems within their factory, and it is also evident from my tour the importance that management places on keeping their employees well informed of their business, and how the conduct of individual employees and their activities (their work) aligns with the goals of the overall organisation. I think that the Kraft management team is a fabulous example of a good employer, and I thank them for the time they took to show me around.

The PRESIDENT: And the workers, on 1 May.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Absolutely.

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