South Australia is experiencing significant economic developments, with its wine exports soaring alongside growing concerns about job security linked to the Star Entertainment Group. According to the 2024 Wine Australia Export Report, the state remains at the forefront of high-value wine exports, accounting for 16.7 percent of total national exports. This momentum has been driven strongly by the removal of tariffs on Australian bottled wine exported to China, contributing $1.3 billion to the country’s export total of $2.55 billion, representing a stunning 70 percent year-on-year growth.
Peter Bailey, the Wine Australia Market Insights Manager, attributed this remarkable increase to the resurgence of Chinese demand. He noted, “If you’re looking at total exports to China, 85 percent of the growth has come from South Australia.” Most of these shipments consist of red wine blends, with Cabernet and Shiraz leading the charge.
Despite these positive indicators, South Australian wine exports have not yet returned to pre-tariff levels. The peak occurred in October 2020, with exports valued at around $900 million, whereas the reported figure for 2024 is $712 million. Bailey emphasized the complexity of the market recovery, explaining, “Because we’ve been out of the market so long, a lot of this increase would be restocking.” He cautioned, “Overall imports juxtaposed against consumption behaviors suggest we may never return to our previous heights.”
Simultaneously, the fate of Star Entertainment, which operates casinos across Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sydney, remains precarious. Fresh from reporting significant financial losses of $8 million just for the final three months of 2024, there are fears its implosion could result in the loss of 9,000 jobs. Andrew Jones, director of the United Workers Union, stressed the widespread consequences of the casino's potential closure, stating, “Over 300 food and beverage suppliers, including local farmers and producers, depend on Star’s operations… supporting Star now could prevent the loss of thousands of jobs.”
Star has struggled since the fallout from its money-laundering scandal back in 2021. The company's share price reached its lowest at 10.5 cents recently, only slightly recovering to 12 cents. While both the Queensland and NSW governments have expressed willingness to support Star’s workers, they’ve ruled out providing financial bailouts. The fear looms large as the casino’s impending collapse could devastate the nightlife economy built over decades.
Adding to the political turmoil, state MP Troy Bell awaits sentencing after being convicted on multiple counts of theft and dishonesty. Judge Rauf Soulio, who is presiding over the case, indicated on January 30, 2025, the possibility of delaying sentencing if the costs and disruptions of holding a by-election were proven substantial. “The application for a stay was primarily based on the fact…that the defendant is an elected member of parliament,” explained Soulio.
Bell’s case has broader ramifications, as he allegedly misappropriated over $430,000 from not-for-profit organizations aimed at assisting vulnerable children, using the funds for personal financial interests. If the judge decides to proceed with sentencing, it will automatically trigger the need for election procedures to fill his seat, raising questions about political stability.
The issue of public health is also stirring debate within South Australia. The Australian Medical Association has raised alarms about nicotine pouches, arguing they represent unregulated dangers to youth health. Dr. John Williams, AMA SA President, stated, “Nicotine pouches are unregulated. There’s no quality control, which means the levels of nicotine contained...could be extremely high.” The South Australian Government enacted legislation to ban these products starting January 30, 2025, aiming to curtail potential risks before they worsen.
Lastly, the political media scene welcomes Mike Smithson, a veteran journalist, as he will contribute to the independent news outlet Indaily. Smithson has promised to illuminate pressing issues, declaring, “I’ve always been a huge admirer of Indaily and its independent, fearless and thought-provoking views on major issues of the day,” adding hopes to push the agenda and integrity of political reporting.
Smithson's expertise is timely as South Australia’s political climate shifts, with significant infrastructure projects underway alongside pressing monetary issues. The state faces the dual challenge of capitalizing on its export strengths, like wine, and addressing potential crises arising from corporate failures and public health concerns.