Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-11-16 Daily Xml

Contents

Italian Community in South Australia

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (21:50): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises the contribution of the Italian community to South Australia and the role of the South Australian Italian Association which has served the Italian community in South Australia for more than 70 years;

2. Congratulates the recipients of the inaugural SAIA Awards on 12 November, including Rosa Matto (Culture and Art Award), Enzo Lombi (Research & Development and Innovation Award), the Romeo family (Business Award), Joyce and Joseph Ceravolo (Young Achiever Award); and

3. Congratulates Antonietta Cocchiaro on receiving the Italian Honour of Cavalier of the Italian Republic and acknowledges her contribution to Italian radio and her role with the South Australian Multicultural Commission.

The Italian community continues to go from strength to strength in South Australia. The state government is proud to support them in a variety of ways. With more than 17,000 Italian-born people living in South Australia and a massive number of more than 100,000 people in South Australia acknowledging Italian ancestry, our Italian community is an integral part of our state's fabric and history. Australian culture has been enriched by our Italian migrants, who have brought their traditions, their arts and of course their food and wine to our shores.

I am pleased to inform the council that over the weekend the South Australian Italian Association commenced their very first annual awards. This important initiative acknowledges the enduring and significant contributions made by Italian migrants and the community. Nominees were awarded and identified across four categories: culture and art, research development and innovation; business; and young achiever. These awards neatly capture the significance of our Italian community's input into so many areas of our society, whether it be in commerce and trade or in the sphere of our culture and heritage.

I particularly wish to congratulate the inaugural winners, including Rosa Matto, who won the Culture and Art Award; Enzo Lombi, who won the Research & Development and Innovation Award; the Romeo family, who won the Business Award; and Joseph Ceravolo, who won the Young Achiever Award.

I would also like to congratulate Antonietta Cocchiaro on recently receiving the Italian honour of Cavalier of the Italian Republic. Her ongoing role in Italian radio, which continues to thrive in South Australia, as well as her contribution to the state government through the Multicultural Commission, and indeed many other contributions to our state, is a shining example of our many Italian community members who give so much in support of South Australia and retaining our Italian community's heritage and culture.

The Malinauskas Labor government has been proud to engage and deliver for the Italian community in South Australia, including through support for this awards program. We are also delivering on several election commitments that support Italian organisations in South Australia, whether through support for the promotion of the Italian language or through support for Italian festivals. We will continue to engage with the community to identify and respond to their needs. I commend the motion and look forward to its passage through this chamber.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. N.J. Centofanti.