The NSW Government has agreed to direct an additional $1.2 million in funding to the New South Wales wine industry over the next two years.
The extra funds are on top of the ongoing investment in the NSW wine industry by the NSW Government which sits at just over $1.5m per year.
NSW Wine’s Executive Officer, Angus Barnes is delighted and relieved to have finally reached an agreement which his organisation has been pursuing since 2019. What is particularly satisfying is that the planned funding takes a holistic and sustainable approach to supporting the industry and its future growth.
Far preferable, Barnes says, to “merely ‘burst of support’ in the face of bushfires, smoke taint and a pandemic”.
The MoU was signed by Mark Bourne, President of the NSWWIA, and Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, Industry and Trade John Barilaro in the Hunter Valley on Thursday evening. (Pictured above with NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Angus Barnes.)
It is the second MoU – the first was in 2017 – and focuses on new export markets, regional wine tourism, and research, development, extension and biosecurity.
The Deputy Premier said, “Our wine industry is invaluable to New South Wales, contributing $1.6 billion each year to the NSW economy and playing a major role in our $38 billion tourism sector…
“This agreement will see industry and government working closely together to identify initiatives to help grow the success of our products and our industry. We know drought, bushfires and floods have hurt the viticulture industry which is why the NSW Government is committed to supporting the sector so we can share our wine with the world and continue to enjoy it at home.”
NSW Wine’s Mr Bourne said, “This MoU will provide a solid framework for the recovery and continued growth of the wine industry in NSW, which employs 53,000 people across regional NSW.”
The additional funding will be used to create:
- Ongoing support from NSW Department of Primary Industries in the form of 3 dedicated development officers for the Viticulture Industry and a Skills Development Program
- Ongoing work with Destination NSW on areas such as the Food & Wine Tourism Action Strategy Plan 2018-2022 and the Export and Regional Wine Support Program (ERWSP)
- AgSkilled 2.0 training programs
The MoU is effective immediately and will last for 2 years, until the state election in March 2023.
NSW Wine has been pursuing this partnership with the state government for two years and Barnes is hopeful that it heralds an enduring and well supported working relationship between his organisation, Wine Australia and the government.
