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- 31 October 2002
Premier's Exporter Of The Year Awards
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The Hon. HENRY TSANG: I direct my question to the Treasurer, and Minister for State Development. Will he inform the House of the highlights of the Premier's Exporter of the Year awards?
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: I am pleased to inform the House that two Australian Technology Showcase [ATS] member firms have won awards at the thirty-fourth Premier's New South Wales Exporter of the Year Awards held last week.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: Didn't you answer this question yesterday?
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: No. I take this opportunity to personally congratulate ResMed Ltd for winning the New South Wales Exporter of the Year Award.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: I think you did.
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: No, I did not. ResMed recently won another award—the Large Advanced Manufacturer Award. I also congratulate Reino International Pty Ltd.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: You've referred to that company before as well.
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: It has also won awards previously. The Leader of the National Party appears to believe that I have given this answer before. I have not. However, many years ago I did on successive days give the same answer and no-one on the Opposition bench noticed. Reino International is a St Leonards-based parking meter technology company and it won the small to medium manufacturers award. Reino is well known for designing and manufacturing the Reino multi-bay parking meter in Australia.
The Hon. Dr Brian Pezzutti: Point of order: The Minister has misled the House. I remember sitting reading the answer on the occasion he has just acknowledged he repeated an answer. I recall that the Treasurer was too ashamed to stop.
The PRESIDENT: Order! I have warned the Hon. Dr Brian Pezzutti on many occasions that he must not use points of order to make debating points.
The Hon. Amanda Fazio: You should throw him out!
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: Madam President, before he finally goes, and he has only a few weeks left with us, it would be lovely if you were to throw him out just once, just so that we have something to remember him by. You can do it affectionately. Reino commenced operations in 1991 as an exporter and distributor. However, management realised that there was a market for a high-tech, cost-effective, user-friendly parking meter. The company earned its first export order in 1999 in the United States and exports now represent 37 per cent of its total revenue.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: Is it in the showcase?
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: Yes, it is. Last financial year, Reino recorded a massive 237 per cent growth in export revenue. The Leader of the National Party constantly asks whether there have been any successes among the Australian Technology Showcase companies. A 237 per cent increase in export revenue is certainly a success.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: When you spoke about Reino last time, they invited me to their factory.
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: Did they?
The Hon. Duncan Gay: Yes. It is a very good company. However, I would prefer that it export its meters rather than use them here at home, and that is what I told them on that occasion.
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: The installation of parking meters means that I can occasionally get a parking space. That is the reason for their installation. The local councils in New South Wales now receive infringement revenue. For a while, this House tried to stop that happening. It is a very valuable source of revenue for councils. ResMed manufacturers, markets and sells medical devices designed to help treat sleep disorders. In 1989, ResMed commenced operating with nine employees and now boasts a staff of 600 in Australia. It is recognised around the world as a technology leader in the manufacture of these devices. We should club together and buy one for the Hon. Dr Brian Pezzutti before he leaves this place.
The Hon. John Ryan: Only a Treasurer would be singing the praises of a parking meter.
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: The company continues to undertake clinical trials to assess and develop its equipment so that it can stay at the forefront of this industry. Every time I go to Bondi Beach I sing the praises of parking meters, because if they were not there I would not get a parking space. If there were no parking meters, I would have to walk all the way from Surry Hills to Bondi. [Time expired.]
The Hon. HENRY TSANG: I have a supplementary question. Will the Minister elucidate his answer?
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: Yes. I commend the Hon. Henry Tsang for his interest, because ResMed is recognised around the world as a technological leader in the manufacture of these sleep apnoea devices. The company continues to undertake clinical trials to assess and develop its equipment so that it can stay at the forefront of the industry. Both ResMed and Reino will represent the State at the national awards ceremony to be held in Melbourne on 26 November. The Premier's Exporter of the Year Award program, now in its thirty-fourth year, is organised by the Australian Institute of Export New South Wales Ltd and is acknowledged by the business community as one of Australia's most prestigious industry awards.
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