Finniss MP David Basham visited the Fleurieu Distillery last week to announce a further $200,000 boost to South Australia’s spirit industry.

The funds will support implementation of the recently released South Australian Spirit Industry Blueprint to help grow the sector and create jobs. 

The blueprint, which was released in late 2021, predicts the South Australian spirit industry will directly employ 2,300 people and inject up to $140 million a year into the state economy by 2031. 

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham says the new $200,000 funding over four years will help the South Australian Spirit Producers Association deliver the blueprint. 

“South Australia is already without doubt the country’s ‘Wine State’ but I truly believe we can become Australia’s ‘Spirit State’ as well,” he says. 

“Last year we delivered Australia’s first ever spirits industry blueprint which highlighted the significant potential for the local industry and laid out a roadmap to ensure long-term growth and success. 

“There are currently more than 50 distilleries across South Australia with more than 60 per cent based regionally and we expect this number to grow in the coming years. 

“The spirit sector now has a strong plan to work together to overcome barriers, build high- class customer experiences and build on the world-renowned reputation of South Australia’s spirit industry. 

South Australian Spirit Producers Association President George Georgiadis has welcomed the funding. 

“The local spirits sector is rapidly emerging as a world leader with 70 per cent export growth annually over the past four years,” he says. 

“Direct employment in the spirits sector is forecast to grow from 620 people in 2022 to 2,300 people by 2031, while contribution to Gross State Product is tipped to rise from $30 million in 2022 to between $94m and $140m by 2031. 

“Our aim is to foster that success in a collaborative way to ensure we continue to grow jobs, economic returns and critical acclaim.” 

The $200,000 funding is on top of the $50,000 the Marshall Liberal Government provided to help create the South Australian Spirit Industry Blueprint and the $30,000 towards industry consultation.