OUR PLACE IN WINE
This was originally to be given as a speech at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in early July of 2021, but the COVID-19 Delta variant closed everything down. I would like you to envision walking through the galleries of pictures and images that, in many respects, define our Australian culture, our progress, our imagination and our hopes for the future. The Archibald Prize is a wonderful 100-year tradition that highlights the wealth of distinguished talent and characters in Australian life. As a painter myself, and never having achieved a hanging, so to speak, I am in awe of those artists who have achieved selection. The images are all so different, and each picture resonates in its own way. But ultimately, as a body, the exhibition is a snapshot of who we are and what we stand for as a people. Our identity, our diversity, our way of living, achievements and ambitions are all embodied in these works and those that have gone before them. This Australian life – in all of its guises – is something that we should all treasure and protect. Over the last 20 months, we have been shaped by events that present new challenges and opportunities. It has been a period of extreme highs and lows, and no doubt many of you are exhausted by the anxieties created by these unusual times. For those in the agricultural sector, international politics have added another layer of uncertainty. For instance, China’s vindictive or retaliatory five-year tariff on Australian wine will no doubt rearrange the musical chairs of international trade for some time to come. Already, Chile is enjoying a massive upswing in exports, filling the void left by Australia. Just in the last quarter, it is up by over 40%. No doubt the French are also taking advantage of our misfortune as they eye the China market for more opportunities. That is the nature of competition. But what goes up must come down if markets are manipulated in such a way. China has a history of intervention. Our documentary feature film Red Obsession, released in 2011, follows the story of Bordeaux and the astonishing increase in prices. Everyone thought this market would go on forever, until the Chinese Government introduced draconian new laws to curb corruption. Sales immediately spiralled. It was as if the Bordeaux wine market climbed to the top of Mount Everest – and then jumped off. In the case of Australian wine, there are many Chinese nationals who have been affected by their government’s draconian policies toward Australia. Many of these people are suffering too. Nonetheless, we should not take our sovereignty, identity and security for granted, or erode or give away these principles. Neither should we think that a principled defence of our way of life will result in the dwindling of our
Our Place in Wine 101
Powered by FlippingBook