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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-29 Daily Xml
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FOOD AND WINE PROMOTION

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:35): A supplementary question: when will these centres open—a date or a month? What due diligence was done to choose that this particular proposal was the best proposal for South Australia to partner with?

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) (14:35): He just doesn't get it. His question was based on missed opportunity. We will seek to explore any opportunity that is presented to us.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Answer the question. When will they open?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The opportunity in relation to—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: You can't answer it.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway!

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: You can't answer it.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway will come to order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The CAEAI presented an opportunity for us and they have indicated—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway will try listening to the answer.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Is Mr Ridgway suggesting that the CAEAI is not a reputable organisation? That's outrageous! That's our China-Australia Entrepreneurs Association Incorporated and that is an outrageous assertion that he is making. They have indicated an interest; they have been involved in the purchase of three separate properties and have indicated a willingness to progress this.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: So when will they open?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The CAEAI has not indicated a completion date, so the Hon. David Ridgway would have to ask them. We have done everything our end so we are ready to go and have lined up businesses. We have kept our part of the agreement; we are ready to go. But we are not standing still. The Fujian and these food safety centres are not the only things that we are looking at. There are many other opportunities that we have explored, including the signing of just under a $5 million contract when we were in China last, and that was to do with a Red Lion business who signed up a fabulous contract while we were there.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: You signed a contract?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The government doesn't enter into private sector contracts. The Hon. David Ridgway hasn't got a clue!

The PRESIDENT: Minister, you will just ignore the Hon. Mr Ridgway.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, you will ignore the interjections of the Hon. Mr Ridgway.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Thank you, Mr President, for your protection. The Hon. David Ridgway just doesn't get it at all. The state government does not sign—

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wade, that is not an invitation for you to take up interjections.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —food contracts with the private sector.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I never claimed that. That is outrageous! We have signed an MOU.

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The role of government is to assist in bringing partnerships and business connections together and that is exactly what we have achieved in assisting our private industries through delegations either to enter into international markets or bring international markets here to South Australia. We have assisted in making those business connections.

The South Australian government doesn't sign contracts. We encourage parties to come together and for contracts to be signed. In the Asian markets, particularly China, having government imprimatur is critical to accelerating business relationships in that country. The private sector simply going over to China and trying to set up appointments and sign contracts is a much more difficult and slower path to go down than it being part of a government delegation with government representatives there. The Chinese in particular, but many of the Asian markets, put a great deal of weight and importance on having government representatives present in a delegation. That is our role: to try to accelerate these relationships, speed up the investment arrangements and speed up opportunities. I have indicated time and again that I am very willing to help any of our sectors fulfil that. If I am available, I am always willing to go along and help out.

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