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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-09-26 Daily Xml
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FOOD AND WINE PROMOTION

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:39): I seek leave to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about premium food and wine from our clean environment.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The minister previously provided information on the appointment of ambassadors as part of the premium food and wine from our clean environment strategic priority. Will the minister update the chamber on recent appointments as part of the ambassadors program?

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) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. One of the best ways to learn about something is from someone you trust, respect and admire, and that's why I believe that this government's premium food and wine from our clean environment ambassador program is so important. This program is an exciting way of spreading the message about this state's premium food and wine and the clean environment that it comes from.

Yesterday, in this place, I was very pleased to appoint Mr Hirata—the chief executive officer of Japanese-based Hirata Industries—as the second internationally-based premium food and wine from a clean environment ambassador. He and a delegation were here in Adelaide and our regions for about four or five days, I think it was, just recently.

Mr Hirata has a long, well-established relationship with the South Australian food industry. He is recognised as the pioneer of importing canola from South Australia, in particular Kangaroo Island Pure Grain. This canola product is favoured by Hirata Industries due to its premium quality grade and non-genetically modified status. Because of this government's commitment to prohibit the commercial cultivation of GM food crops until at least 1 September 2019, there is particular interest in South Australian produce in Japan.

Mr Hirata has already played a significant role in introducing our premium produce to previously untapped international markets and in supporting our industry's growth around the world. He has also assisted in expanding exports of other products from Kangaroo Island, including Ligurian honey.

Mr Hirata is an obvious choice as a premium food and wine from a clean environment ambassador for he will be a spokesperson in Japan, informing people he meets across various businesses and across the industry, as well as those in his existing networks, about how valuable our food and wine produce is. I am very pleased that he has kindly accepted my offer to be part of this exciting program.

Mr Hirata's appointment follows the appointment of Hong Kong master chef Wong Wing Chee during my recent trip to Hong Kong last month. Chef Wong was born into a family of culinary masters, with his father also a renowned chef. He has been working as a chef since 1978, gaining extensive international experience. In 2006, chef Wong established his Dragon King Restaurant Group.

Mr Wong is an incredibly popular chef who, I understand, has won the Chinese Iron Chef competitions not once, not twice, but three times. His television programs are seen by millions of people, and he is extremely well known throughout China and Hong Kong. He is particularly known for using high quality ingredients from all over the world, including South Australia. At that announcement, chef Wong talked about why he believes South Australia's seafood is the best in the world and how he frequently seeks it out to feature it in his dishes. Chef Wong is thrilled now to be an official promoter of this state's food and wine.

The ambassadors program is just another example of this government's commitment to capitalise on the increasing global demand for our premium products from South Australia's clean water, clean air, and clean seas and soil. As a government, we are continuing to work with industry to build on the tremendous opportunities that exist for the food and wine industries here in this state.

Mr Wong and Mr Hirata are fabulous additions to the line-up of 17 South Australian-based ambassadors. Having ambassadors of this calibre promoting our premium food and wine from a clean environment is a real coup for South Australia's food and wine industries.

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