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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-10-17 Daily Xml
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Hong Kong Australia Business Association Business Awards

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:39): Thank you, Mr President, for your call. My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment about the recent Hong Kong Australia Business Association Business Awards. I have a long association with Hong Kong ABA and it was a pleasure to attend the Hong Kong ABA Business Awards recently with the minister. Can the minister please update the council about the recent winners at the 2018 Hong Kong Australia Business Association Business Awards, and say how the South Australian government is contributing to a new sense of confidence amongst South Australian exporters?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for her question and, as she said, her very longstanding interest in, especially, the Hong Kong Australia Business Association, but also in growing our great state's economy. I was honoured to recently attend the South Australian chapter of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association (HKABA) business awards for 2018, where a number of South Australian exporters were recognised for their outstanding business achievements.

Confidence in the South Australian economy has risen significantly since the election of the Marshall Liberal government, and I have heard countless local businesses share their excitement in the direction the Liberal government is taking this great state. There is no doubt that there is comprehensive support for the government's new policy direction for international trade, and that was the message I received loud and clear at the HKABA awards, which was hosted by president Andrew Faulkner and attended, of course, by my good friend and colleague the Hon. Jing Lee, and a number of other notable guests there on the night as well.

The awards were particularly special. There is a great feel and sense of camaraderie amongst the businesses, and everybody celebrates everybody's success. Some of the businesses that were recognised on the night were Wines by Geoff Hardy. Richard Dolon many of us would know is the export manager for Wines by Geoff Hardy: he was away, but his wife Bec Hardy received the award, and they won the export for goods and services award.

The Hahndorf Inn, Mr Andrew Holmes, was the winner of the business excellence award. They market direct to international tourists, and he has built up an enviable reputation of a must-visit attraction on Main Street, Hahndorf, and I urge members opposite to go and check out the amazing pork hock and dark stout, imported directly from Germany.

Flavio Outdoor Living Solutions: Mr Flavio Condelli, was the winner of the import of goods and services award. Quality sandstone products, pavers and pots, as well as outdoor furniture and fencing, are the main products. He has 11 employees, plus a factory and a warehouse that he has built on Muller Road, and he is successfully combining local manufacturing with complementary imported products.

The last award went to International Tailored Solutions by Pamela Murphy, winner of a business development award and entrepreneur of the year. I have met this lady: she is very impressive, a fluent speaker of Cantonese, and she helps South Australian businesses to understand how to get the most out of their relationships with existing and prospective partners in the Asia region.

We know that South Australia's export performance has been behind the rest of Australia, and it needs to improve significantly. Our share of Australian exports in the 12 months to August 2018 was 3.7 per cent, with Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria accounting for 41.4 per cent, 24.5 per cent, 5.3 per cent and 8.3 respectively.

Businesses such as those recognise that the HKABA will play a huge role in growing South Australia's exports and pushing to new markets across the globe. We, as the South Australian government, will assist them with our comprehensive policy to boost South Australia's international trade and support our exporters, including our new trade offices, the South Australian Export Accelerator Program, which will increase funding, and the increased funding for the international education via StudyAdelaide funding for a more targeted approach to international engagement.

I commend again all the winners and finalists from this year's business awards night, especially the SA chapter of the HKABA, and thank president Andrew Faulkner and his committee for bringing together so many outstanding local businesses and hosting such a successful awards nights.

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