Australia’s alcohol taxation system is illogical, incoherent, and discriminatory regarding spirits.

The policy settings for the Australian spirits industry have only been tinkered with by successive governments.

It is now time for the Government to act. We need your support.

This latest increase to the world’s third highest spirits tax is unconscionable under the current economic conditions confronting Australian spirits manufacturers. The entire industry must work together to raise awareness among politicians, customers, communities and staff of the impact that high spirits excise has on the growth and sustainability of the Australian spirits industry.

The automatic indexation of spirits tax every six months is now under unprecedented scrutiny as a cost of living issue. The media and the public have cottoned on to the fact that alcohol tax increases are contributing to inflation and eroding their discretionary income, because income tax is not indexed to inflation.

We must seize this opportunity and maintain pressure on the Government to take action on spirits tax.

I draw your attention to page 9 of the Members Handbook which has a draft letter for you to send your local MP requesting they visit your distillery, support our call to freeze the excise increases and support our call for a Parliamentary Inquiry. Feel free to amend the letter, but please send it today!

Download the Handbook for all of the tools you need to assist in the campaign to make our industry stronger, fairer and more sustainable.

HANDBOOK AVAILABLE HERE