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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-05-30 Daily Xml
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Fast Movers Awards

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Can the minister update the house on some of the fastest growing businesses in South Australia and how the Marshall Liberal government's pro-trade agenda will assist them to expand into new markets?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:56): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in growing our state's economy. Last Friday, I had the pleasure of witnessing some of the fastest growing businesses in our state being awarded for their hard work and dedication at the Fast Movers 2018 breakfast, presented by BDO SA and Brand South Australia.

Fast Movers celebrates the top 25 fast moving businesses in South Australia for 2018 and this year attracted more entrants than ever. I was very pleased to see that there was a very strong regional representation in the entrants. Apparently, the competition for top spots was so tight that there was only a 15 per cent difference in average growth between the positions of 26 to 50.

The overall winner was a company called Enviroclad Australia. Enviroclad makes expanded polystyrene (EPS) products, including external cladding and rendered wall and fence systems. They currently employ 20 staff and have had an average revenue growth of over 298 per cent. What was even more encouraging was the news that the company is expanding into Victoria and is seeing tremendous growth opportunities.

Second place went to Elite Building and Renovations, an Underdale-based property group specialising in renovations and extensions to existing homes. The company had an average revenue growth of some 209 per cent. Uniti Wireless brought up the podium in third spot, which is a high-speed internet provider and is building a fixed wireless broadband network in Adelaide and Melbourne to feed growing demand for its internet services. They currently employ more than 60 staff and their average revenue growth was some 176 per cent.

Seeing these companies grow, expand and reinvest in their own business is very encouraging and it just illustrates the confidence that they have in a positive future under a Marshall Liberal government. The government is very proud of the work our small businesses do and we are doing everything we can to encourage them to expand and access growth opportunities. We understand that today's fastest growing companies locally are the exporters of the future. Indeed, some of the place winners are already doing so. Ferguson Australia, which came in at eighth place with revenue growth of 112 per cent, currently exports to China, the United States, Russia and a couple of other smaller markets.

Our government has placed such emphasis on growing exports because they are vital to our economy and the future of our state. That is why we have committed to establishing an international trade office in China, our biggest trading partner; the United States of America, our second biggest trading partner; Japan; Malaysia; and the Middle East. Such is the importance we have placed on allowing local business to easily access trade opportunities that the Premier himself was recently in China to further our connections and build on the relationships we are fostering.

The federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment (the Hon. Steven Ciobo) was also in attendance, which goes to show the collaborative nature our government has towards working with the federal government to grow international trade opportunities. The great work of the federal government is opening up markets with free trade agreements and has greatly assisted our producers and businesses to secure vital overseas contracts and expand their operations. While in China, both the Premier and minister Ciobo witnessed Port Adelaide Football Club defeat the Gold Coast Suns by some 40 points. It was great to see a South Australian team coming up a winner on the international stage.

The Fast Movers Awards show that South Australia is home to some truly innovative, dynamic businesses that have the possibility of being world-beaters if the government enables and empowers them to take advantage of the growth opportunities. The Marshall government's ambitious international agenda for growing local businesses will ensure they get the support they need to grow, expand, invest in themselves, and easily and efficiently access the overseas markets they need to continually grow their prosperity. I congratulate all the winners of the Fast Movers Awards and wish them all the very best for the exciting years ahead.

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