Justine Keay (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to congratulate the Hellyers Road Distillery, which is in my electorate of Braddon, on their success in winning the Tasmanian Exporter of the Year Award. The Hellyers Road Distillery has an interesting background, as it was founded by dairy farmers from the Betta Milk Cooperative. In addition to winning the Tasmanian Exporter of the Year Award, Hellyers Road won the small business category award for the second year in a row. Hellyers Road started exporting overseas 10 years ago. From a small beginning of two pallets a year the business now exports a full container per year. They export to over 20 countries, including those in Europe, China and Japan, and have just recently started exporting to the United States.

Hellyers Road is also Australia's biggest-selling locally-made craft whisky. In fact, Hellyers Road produces 17 different types of whisky from single malt and aged single malt whiskies to whiskies with pinot noir or port finishes. As an added bonus they also produce the highly acclaimed cold grain Southern Lights vodka and a very smooth cream liqueur.

The successful Hellyers Road is just one example of the magnificent local produce that can be found in the Cradle Coast region. I encourage the House and the wider community to visit the north-west coast of Tasmania and sample our fantastic produce. It is some of the best in Australia, if not the world. I congratulate Hellyers Road on their success.