Sharman Stone (Murray, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to thank Australians who have given huge support in buying Australian processed fruit, all grown in my electorate and manufactured by SPC Ardmona. Just weeks ago, the future of the last Australian fruit processor was in doubt. Fortunately, parent company Coca-Cola Amatil and the Victorian government have made a co-investment of over $100 million to help retool for new products, and our future now looks bright. But it was not just the Victorian government and Coca-Cola Amatil that saved SPC Ardmona. The Australian public got behind the last Australian fruit processor and showed that Australians really do want home-grown, Australian owned and made food. A Shepparton social media campaign started in April 2013, calling for everyone to 'toss a tin in the trolley', and Australians did, by the thousands. In January another social media campaign was started, by a concerned Australian in Newcastle, nearly 1,000 kilometres away from Shepparton and the great Goulburn and Murray Valley orchards. On Twitter, her hashtag #SPCsunday took off and gained momentum, and we had more than 20.4 million mentions of SPCA on Twitter as well as an additional 10,000 Facebook page 'likes'. The social media was overwhelming but so was the Australian public going beyond their computers, walking outside and going and buying this great Australian food. I want to commend the media as well. We thank you most sincerely. You all helped us to save this great Australian industry. (Time expired)

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