An important part of QDA's role is advocating for distillers on important changes that could affect the growth of our industry.

Container Deposit Scheme

With the announced introduction of the scheme for spirit bottles from 1 November, QDA has been working with Spirits and Cocktails Australia to address some of the concerning shortfalls in the approach put forward in draft legislation, including:

We would encourage you to reach out to your local member on this issue.

Liquor Licensing Proactive Compliance Plan

OLGR have recently released their 2023-2024 Proactive Compliance Plan - download it here.

Importantly, a stated focus is ensuring ensuring artisan producers understand, and are meeting, their licence obligations and harm minimisation requirements.

OLGR have indicated that:

"The artisan producer licence has primarily been included in our compliance plan for the next year because it is a new licence type and two years or so in it is appropriate from a risk management perspective as the regulator to touch base with licensees to ensure they fully understand the requirements of the licence (particularly as outlined in the attached fact sheet which is also on our website). It is more of an educative role in the first instance and is not in response to any wide-ranging areas of non-compliance that we aware of."

Artisan distillers should expect OLGR to reach out to them over the coming months. They have indicated that there will be an initial focus on those who have not lodged their annual return on time.

Excise at $100.05 per LAL

Australian Distiller's Association is coordinating a campaign - kicked off with the unfortunate milestone of inflation driving excise to $100.05 per LAL - to have distillers engage with local members of federal parliament and media to make the case for tax reform.

Head to the Australian Distillers website where you can find the handbook for distillers to support this advocacy.

DOWNLOAD HANDBOOK