Wine Industry Amendment Bill

_{17 April, 2008}

Ms JARRATT (Whitsunday—ALP) (5.21 pm): I rise to speak in support of the wine industry
development proposals contained in the Wine Industry Amendment Bill. I believe that these progressive
amendments to the Wine Industry Act will reinforce the Queensland wine industry’s capacity to further
develop over coming years. These proposals also demonstrate how the government is prepared to
listen to the industry and then make practical amendments to the act to ensure that the law remains
current and that unnecessary regulation, which can inadvertently hinder development opportunities, is
removed. Just as I support the wine industry in Queensland, I also fully support the key policy objectives
of this bill which are aimed at avoiding unnecessary regulation and encouraging further innovation and
growth in the Queensland wine industry.

The bill contains a range of initiatives to streamline wine licensing processes and avoid
unnecessary regulation. These innovative proposals will be well regarded by the industry, which has
sought licensing laws which will positively assist the ongoing development of Queensland’s wine
industry.

It is with a great deal of pride that I acknowledge the ongoing development of the state’s wine
industry. Today, Queensland has 190 wine producers and wine merchants. That figure is a little
disputed. The member for Aspley says over 180, but my latest figures show that there are around 190
wine producers and wine merchants. This represents a growth rate of 32 per cent since 2004, when
there were 145 licensed winemakers. Very proudly I say that that makes Queensland the fastest
growing wine state in Australia. The growth in the number of winemakers is spread across the state’s 10
distinct wine regions, from the southern Granite Belt, where they make some fabulous wines, to north
Queensland’s boutique tropical fruit wine region. The member for Hinchinbrook is a great advocate for
the fruit wines from north Queensland, and it is very good to hear in the parliament that fruit wines have
been so well supported. The number of hectares under wine grape cultivation has also increased by
over 500 per cent over the past 10 years. The total vineyard area now under cultivation in Queensland
exceeds 1,450 hectares.

Wine producers are the core of the Queensland wine industry. These business operators have
invested substantial sums of money in establishing vineyards and wine production facilities across the
state. Any member who has taken the opportunity of visiting the Sirromet winery at Mount Cotton or
viewing the company’s 150-hectare vineyards at Ballandean on the Granite Belt, where you will find the
formidable Angelo, would not fail to be impressed by the significant investment that Sirromet has made
in the future of the Queensland wine industry.

Queensland wines have certainly come of age over the past few years, with awards being won at
local, national and international shows—again confirming that Queensland wine is equal to or better
than any other Australian wines. I was delighted to be in Townsville last week at a major motel in the
area. I asked for a particular type of white wine and was delighted to discover that their house sauvignon
blanc was indeed a Queensland wine. I really support that type of support of our Queensland wines by
the hotel and club industry.

I also wholeheartedly support the red tape reduction initiatives contained in the bill which will
further assist industry growth. Simplifying the procedures to enable a wine merchant to readily convert
into the wine producer category will encourage such operators to invest further and become fullyfledged
wine producers. Also, allowing conversion applicants to sell and supply other Queensland
produced wines ‘automatically’ is another red tape reduction action to eliminate the need for a further
application to be made to obtain this common wine producer entitlement. This initiative should also
increase availability of Queensland wines at appropriate sales outlets, and that can only be a good
thing.

The bill’s intention to reform the current advertising procedures for new licence applications is
also a commendable red tape reduction initiative. The majority of wine licence applicants are situated in
rural communities such as the Granite Belt or South Burnett wine regions. The wine-tasting and related
wine tourism activities undertaken by these businesses do not tend to cause any community problems,
concerns or adverse consequences. Allowing the chief executive to give consideration to whether public
advertising is necessary for a wine industry application will, in the majority of cases, lead to a reduction
in the total costs and time taken to obtain a wine industry licence—common-sense legislation.

The initiatives contained in the bill reinforce the government’s red tape reduction principles and
will further encourage and support wine business development in this state. I thank former Minister
Keech and current Minister Boyle for progressing these valuable amendments to the Wine Industry Act
which have been guided by the Queensland Wine Industry Development Strategy, which calls for a
sustainable, diverse and innovative Queensland wine industry. In satisfying this objective of the strategy,
these amendments will ensure that the licensing requirements for Queensland’s current wine industry
members are appropriate and will also enhance the capacity of our future winemakers to effectively
develop and make their businesses commercial successes. I enthusiastically support the bill before the
House.

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