The Australian Distillers Association’s 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission, jointly developed with Spirits & Cocktails Australia, has now been lodged with Treasury.

This comprehensive submission outlines key recommendations to support the growth and international competitiveness of the Australian spirits industry, including:

The submission emphasises the alignment of our industry’s objectives with Federal Government priorities, such as growing manufacturing, diversifying exports, and supporting regional communities.

The proposed SEAS package includes measures that would benefit all Australian distillers, regardless of whether you are interested in exporting. These include:

For those businesses who are already exporting or wish to do so, the package would provide additional assistance, such as coordination of an Australian contingent at major global trade shows.

DOWNLOAD THE SUBMISSION

REVIEW OUR OTHER POLICY DOCUMENTS

The Albanese Government’s freeze on draught beer excise discriminates against spirits producers, drinkers and the entire distilling supply chain, the spirits industry says.

Spirits & Cocktails Australia chief executive Greg Holland said there was no policy rationale to support a freeze on draught beer alone.

“The tax on spirits is already three times higher than it is on beer. Freezing draught beer excise alone is discriminatory in every sense – it favours beer drinkers over spirit drinkers, brewers over distillers, and pubs over bars,” he said.

Holland said the Government has effectively ignored the spirits industry’s calls for sensible alcohol tax reform.

“These recommendations were supported by a bipartisan parliamentary committee in its recent report on the food and beverage manufacturing inquiry,” he said.

“Yet the Government has baulked at the alcohol tax reform it knows is desperately needed by the 700 distilleries operating across Australia, 50% of them in regional areas.”

Australian Distillers Association chief executive Paul McLeay said the Albanese Government’s favouritism of the beer sector was disappointing.

“This policy has put a dampener on last week’s announcement of a $50,000 increase to the remission,” he said.

“We’ve spent the past year advocating for the industry’s opportunities for growth, including our potential to become a $1 billion export industry within the decade.

“The Government has so far overlooked this economic opportunity, so we hope there are further policy announcements that will enable us to realise this potential.”

Australian distillers have today welcomed $50,000 in additional tax relief, announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP with the candidate for Lyons, Rebecca White MP, at Killara Distillery in Tasmania.

This much needed relief means the excise-free threshold for craft distillers and brewers will lift from $350,000 to $400,000 from 1 July 2026. Equivalent relief will be offered to winemakers through the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) producer rebate.

President of the Tasmanian Whisky and Spirits Association and founder of Killara Distillery Kristy Lark-Booth said the additional relief comes at a time when it is needed most by Tasmania’s 77 distilleries.

“Fifty thousand dollars will provide much-needed headroom for Tasmanian whisky and spirits producers to continue investing in their businesses and laying down barrels to support the growth of the industry, both at home and abroad,” she said.

“We know that Tasmania produces some of the world’s most distinctive spirits, and there is huge scope to create a thriving export industry to rival the likes of more established distilling industries in Japan, Ireland and the USA.”

Australian Distillers Association chief executive Paul McLeay said the benefits will flow to 700 craft distillers throughout the country, half of which are in regional and rural Australia.

“Eighty-eight per cent of Australian distillers are small businesses and today’s announcement means they can continue investing in enhancing production, supporting regional employment and providing unique destinations for tourists,” he said.

“We recognise the additional funding announced today for Austrade to help the industry realise its export potential, but we know that more needs to be done.

“Research shows that with the right settings and support, Australian spirits exports can grow to be worth $1 billion in trade value within the decade.

“That’s why we’ve called on the Government to adopt our Spirits Export Accelerator Strategy to provide the necessary infrastructure to upskill distillers and protect the integrity and reputation of Australian spirits in export, ensuring the right checks and balances are in place before product leaves our shores.

“We know that with this support, we can build on the Albanese Government’s objectives of growing domestic manufacturing, diversifying exports and supporting regional communities.

“We look forward to continue working with the Prime Minister and his team to realise this potential.”

        

Australian spirits manufacturers have welcomed recommendations from a federal parliamentary inquiry that will assist in unlocking the industry’s $1 billion export potential.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources tabled recommendations from its Inquiry Into Food and Beverage Manufacturing in Australia yesterday, following a referral by Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic MP, on 18 March, 2024.

The bipartisan committee, chaired by Labor MP Rob Mitchell, recommended the establishment of a body called Spirits Australia to improve regulation, support innovation and realise export opportunities, acknowledging the success of the Wine Australia model.

The committee further recommended that the Federal Government provide increased Austrade assistance for small and medium enterprises looking to export Australian food and beverage products to Asia.

The committee acknowledged that 40 per cent of the submissions it received came from the alcohol industry and raised concerns about the system of alcohol taxation in Australia. Due to the complexity of this issue, the committee did not draw any conclusions but recommended that a House Select Committee be formed to inquire and report into all aspects of Australia’s alcohol industry.

Australian Distillers Association chief executive Paul McLeay thanked the committee for the interest it had shown in the spirits sector and understanding its opportunities and challenges.

“These recommendations demonstrate the committee recognises our potential to follow in the footsteps of Australian wine, which has become a $2.5 billion export industry by working in partnership with the Federal Government,” he said.

“We call on the Government to adopt our Spirits Export Accelerator Strategy as the first step towards fulfilling the objectives of the Spirits Australia body.”

Spirits & Cocktails Australia chief executive Greg Holland said the industry looks forward to working with the Government to implement the report’s recommendations.

“But we must remind the Government that Spirits Australia cannot be industry funded while we are paying the world’s third highest spirits tax. There simply isn’t the headroom for an additional levy,” he said.

“Wine Australia was fully Government funded in the beginning, and it remains partly Government funded today, as the committee itself acknowledges in its report.

“Spirits Australia must be funded initially by allocating a modest amount of the $6 billion in excise our industry pays to the Government every year.”

ADI's early bird discount for the 2025 International Spirits Competition ends February 7, 2025, so you only have two weeks left to take advantage of this extra saving.

In addition, when members of the Australian Distillers Association enter their spirits and use the discount code ADA2025 they will save $100/spirit off ADI's non-member rate.

Benefits for those that enter:

ADI ISC registration closes March 7, 2025 so don't wait to enter!

Members can find all the details about our competition here:

ADI ISC competition info

or you can contact Eric Zandona, competition director, directly at the American Distilling Institute.

The Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) is “strongly advising” alcohol marketers to self-audit all of their brand social media accounts to ensure age restriction controls are in place.

ABAC said it will shortly be commissioning compliance monitoring of age restriction controls across alcohol and alcohol alternative Instagram, Facebook and Youtube accounts.

ABAC said that both signatory and non-signatory accounts will be audited and that a checklist with links explaining how to apply age restrictions is available on the ABAC website.

In addition ABAC said it has recently published its best practice guide for responsible alcohol sponsorship.

In a statement about the guide the ABAC Scheme Limited said: “The new guide highlights how the Code currently applies to sponsorship activity, and importantly, the new guidance for sponsorship agreements will assist the industry to proactively ensure that their decision to engage in an agreement with a particular individual, group or event is socially responsible.

“This valuable new resource will assist the industry in maintaining socially responsible marketing practices. We encourage alcohol marketers to share this resource with their sponsorship and marketing teams and incorporate it into their internal policies.

“The guide is a useful addition to ABAC’s existing range of compliance training resources, which are freely available on the ABAC website, and the ABAC pre-vetting service for checking ads before going to market.

“With the final quarter of 2024 attracting an increase in complaints, determinations and Code breaches, it is timely for alcohol marketers to revisit these resources and ensure that their staff and agencies complete the free online training course available on the ABAC website.”

In its latest quarterly report ABAC said social media posts and website images showing or directly implying alcohol consumption before or while swimming in a pool or engaging in water-based activities were the most common reason for a Code breach.

The Scheme added: “Other concerns that resulted in breaches of Code standards highlight for marketers where care is needed when developing marketing included:

ABAC continues to offer its free pre-vetting service for alcohol marketers and encourages brands across Australia to have the advertising checked before going live.

Information about the Code and the services available to alcohol marketers is available on the ABAC website.

Article by Andy Young, The Shout.

Distillers, Suppliers and Industry friends,

As we finish off the year, I wanted to wish you and your team as well as your family a very merry Christmas, and a successful new year.

Like many of you, I have had a very challenging 2024. We have had to trim staff as sales flattened and we have had to tighten our belts and be more creative. But we can proudly now say we have got through. I am hoping and confident that 2025 will be a better year for the craft spirits industry in Australia. That we can work towards thriving once more rather than just surviving.

We have a lot to look forward to in 2025. The Australian Distillers Association will celebrate our 21st Birthday next year. Our “coming of age” will be an opportunity to re-engage with the Association on your terms.

The Board has worked hard to ensure our Association has a clear strategic plan for the next three years. You can view the plan here.

We have reconfigured the Project Groups to encourage a focus and genuine member engagement with topics that are crucial to building a sustainable future for our industry. The Project Groups are: Technical Stands; Safety; Sustainability; and Training & Education. I encourage you to consider participating, and you can express your interest here.

I’d like to thank all members who joined the ADA’s ongoing campaign and actively participated in advocating for fair and sustainable excise reform this year. To those who wrote a submission to the various parliamentary inquiries, appeared as witnesses, invited your local MP to your distillery, was interviewed by radio and television for, participated in project group or other committee - either at the local, state or national level – your peers and I thank you. We have had a huge year.

One of our Associations highlights has been the governance reforms that mean the Board is now more accountable to you, as a member, than ever before. The creation of the divisions and the opportunity for the state organisations to have a Memorandum of Understanding with the national organisation mean the member experience is simpler, your fees are less, the administration is streamlined and we have an effective singular voice when dealing with Government and other stakeholders. Welcome aboard NSW-ACT Distillers Association, Queensland Distillers Association, and Distillers South Australia. We welcome other divisions to complete the process early in the new year.

As we look to the future, we will continue to advocate for conditions that allow our Australian spirits industry to thrive. This includes our latest campaign for a Spirits Export Accelerator Scheme that will provide both incentives and support to bolster the spirits industry’s international competitiveness and create the conditions for a thriving export industry worth $1 billion by 2035. Such schemes encourage small distilleries to grow beyond the remission threshold, and further support medium and large distilleries in their growth aspirations. We know that with targeted and coordinated support, we will give all Australian distillers, whether they export or not, the conditions and support to grow and thrive. When the Australian Government supported the wine industry a generation ago, it transformed the industry for growth, and we know the same can be done for Spirits. We just need a willing and informed partner in the Federal Government to make sensible changes to unleash our potential.

A vibrant and productive spirits industry can also promote growth in domestic manufacturing, while increasing trade and employment, supporting innovation and technology, helping the growth of regional industry, all while showcasing the very best of Australian spirits to the world. The Federal Government can play a pivotal role in catalysing the growth of the industry, in support of many of its own priorities – such as growing manufacturing and regional jobs.

We are also doing our part to ensure we have a safe and sustainable industry. The National Distilling Institute is an industry-first, made possible through a grant from the Victorian Government. We have trained distillers to teach the course. The subject matter experts that write the course are your peers. And the students are your colleagues. There are already more than 30 students who have started the journey to complete the Certificate IV in Artisan fermented Products (Distilling).

We also have now have a fit-for-purpose safety course – the Introduction to Distillery Safety. Designed by industry, for industry, and delivered by industry experts, on-site at operational distilleries, this course is a game-changer for Australian distillers. It is offered at an affordable and accessible rate, so every distiller in the country can benefit from doing the course.

Ensuring we operate fairly and comply with employment laws can take up valuable time and resources when running our businesses. I’m pleased that all members can now access a free Human Resources advisory service. This service alone is worth thousands of dollars, and it’s completely covered as part of your annual membership fee.

If you have not had the chance, I also recommend you check the ADA soundcloud page to get the updates from the Chief Executive, Paul, who will continue his regular podcast updates for all the latest ADA and industry news and developments. Check the podcast page here.

Lastly, I’m pleased to announce that tickets have now gone on sale for the 2025 Annual conference. If you’re like me, you’ll find attending absolutely invaluable as far as gaining industry insights, connecting with your peers and broadening your business networks and industry knowledge goes. You can access early bird tickets here. The 2025 Conference will have a particular focus on brand building and sales as well as industry updates and developments. We will also be bringing back our break out information sessions – one of the most successful new additions to our conferences to date. So, bring your team along and I hope see you there.

On behalf of the Board and staff of the ADA, we wish you all a safe and happy Christmas, and a successful start to the New Year.

Holly Klintworth

Managing Director & Head Distiller Bass & Flinders Distillery
President Australian Distillers Association

The Australian Distillers Association is pleased to welcome our new energy partner Choice Energy who have joined to assist members with strategies and solutions to reduce their energy costs and improve energy efficiency.

The worst outcome for members engaging Choice Energy is “peace-of-mind, knowing that not even a that a team of energy geeks could find a way to reduce their spend on energy. It costs them $0 to find out too”.

Australian owned and operated, with more than 12,000 business customers, Choice Energy is an award-winning commercial energy consultancy, which believes in a predictable, fair and low-cost energy future for businesses.

In 2024, Choice Energy has already assisted over 1,000 businesses identify and save over $5,000,000 in energy costs through the following services.

 Complimentary energy bill health checks (electricity and gas)

 Commercial energy broking and procurement (small and large-market)

 Quality commercial solar solutions with leading warranties and a performance guarantee

Choice Energy have recently worked with existing Australian Distillers members on saving over $3,000 on their energy costs.

In the coming weeks, as part of the Australian Distiller's new webinar series  we will be hosting a webinar on how members can access Choice Energy services and help reduce the cost of doing business.

Look out for the invite in your inbox soon, in the meantime, if you would like to find out if Choice Energy can help you reduce the cost of doing business simply contact Alex Townsend on the details below and submit your most recent energy bill*.

Contact Alex Townsend on 0435 080 646 or send a recent copy of your energy bills via email. 

*Excludes bills that are not registered to an ABN

The board of the Australian Distillers Association met earlier in the year to determine the future strategic direction of the industry. We will provide a comprehensive update at the AGM to be held early next year. But you can view the summary of the strategic plan here.

2025 STRATEGIC PLAN

2025 will see the re-organisation of specialty Project Groups. Members will recall the existence of some of these project Groups already. The Technical Standards Project Group has been established for three years. The Safety and Sustainability Project Group will be split apart in acknowledgement that there is significant workload for both of these topics. We have created an additional Education and training Project Group.

You can see the individual charters of the Project Groups in the Members Portal.

If you are currently a member of Technical Standards Project Group, we will ask if you want to maintain your membership. If you are member of the Safety & Sustainability Project Group, you will be asked which of the new Project Group you want to be a member of (you can maintain membership of both). We will be seeking new members of the Training & Education Project Group.

If you want to join any of the Project Groups, send an email to Michael with the name of the Project Group in the Subject and 100 words claim to why you want to be on the Project Group and what benefits, interest or skills you will bring to the Project Group.

Each Project Group will be sponsored by a Director of the ADA and administration and support will be provided by us. The Project Group are advisory bodies and can make recommendations to the Board of the ADA.