Keith Pitt (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I know that you've heard of it—Bundaberg Brewed Drinks and their famous ginger beer—but what you might not have heard is that, last week, this icon of our local region, of my home town, of our country, has announced that it will construct a super-brewery in Bundaberg. It's a $156 million investment in regional Australia, with support from the Australian government in terms of our Regional Growth Fund to the tune of $19 million. Mr Speaker, I know that you've got some regions around you with a little bit of agriculture. To give you an idea of just how big this will be: right now, that applicant—Bundaberg Brewed Drinks—uses 650 tonnes of ginger. By 2028, that will be 6,000 tonnes just in ginger alone into this plant. It is 45,000 square metres in size. It will create 213 jobs in construction and 147 jobs post-construction. In our view, this is the biggest manufacturing project in our region ever. There has never been a larger manufacturing project than this. So, with support from the Australian government in terms of the $19 million contribution from the Regional Growth Fund, we ensure that this national icon remains in regional Australia, remains in its home town and remains where it came from. This is a family owned company that is transporting this product right around the world to some 44 countries. Long may they continue to promote that name, and congratulations to them.