Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party secured an emphatic win in the Federal Election held last weekend, with string swings to the left through large parts of the country.
The Labor Government has introduced some policies to benefit parts of Australia’s drinks industry, and many industry associations have said they are looking forward to working with the Government and also pointed out areas where further assistance would help.
The Australian Hotels Association’s National CEO Stephen Ferguson told The Shout: “The AHA congratulates the Albanese Government on its re-election.
“In the past term of Parliament, the AHA always worked constructively with the Government.
“We look forward again to working constructively with the Albanese Government in this term of parliament.”
Retail Drinks Australia also acknowledged its work with the Labor Government during its last term and said it was looking forward to that work continuing.
Retail Drink CEO Michael Waters told The Shout: “Retail Drinks congratulates Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party on their election victory last Saturday.
“We appreciated our engagement with the Commonwealth Government throughout the last term of Parliament, including through our contributions to the Inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia.
‘We look forward to working closely and collaboratively with incoming members of the Albanese Cabinet once they’re sworn in on behalf of the Australian liquor retail industry.”
Clubs Australia described the Government’s recent announcement to freeze the excise on draught beer for two years as a practical measure that will assist clubs in managing costs, provide some cost-of-living relief for patrons, and support ongoing investment in their venues.
Clubs Australia Executive Director Rebecca Riant added: “We look forward to continuing our engagement with the Government and all members of the new Parliament to ensure community clubs remain strong, sustainable and well positioned to support Australians into the future.”
The Australian Distillers Association also welcomed some of the Government’s commitments and again highlighted the huge export potential for Australian spirits.
Australian Distillers Association chief executive Paul McLeay told The Shout: “The Australian Distillers Association welcomes the government’s commitment to increasing the remission for all eligible Australian spirit producers that will provide much needed headroom for manufacturing and tourism growth, particularly in regional areas.
“The Association also looks forward to continuing to work constructively with the Federal Labor Government to realise the industry’s growth potential, including the $1bn export opportunity we have identified for Australian spirits, through the creation of Spirits Australia, as recommended by 2024 Parliamentary Inquiry Into Food and Beverage Manufacturing in Australia.”
Australian Grape & Wine (AGW) welcomed several of the commitments made during the election campaign, which it said will benefit wine businesses. These included increasing to the Wine Equalisation Tax rebate cap, the extension of the instant asset write-off, new funding for on-farm connectivity, and enhanced freight assistance for Tasmania.
AGW said these are practical measures that support productivity and resilience in regional communities.
AGW CEO, Mr Lee McLean told The Shout: “The Albanese Government has a renewed mandate and a clear opportunity to back one of Australia’s most iconic and export-focused agricultural sectors. With smart, strategic support we can accelerate recovery, support regional economies, and sustain jobs across Australia’s wine-producing communities.”
The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) highlighted some of the commitments and initiatives, which could form part of an Albanese Action Plan “to save Australia’s independent brewing industry”.
These included:
- Extending Unfair Trading Practices protections to small businesses;
- Providing $20m to support Australian producers through a Buy Australian Campaign;
- Boosting funding to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by $38.8m to crack down on misleading and deceptive pricing practices and unconscionable conduct in the supermarket and retail sector.
IBA CEO Kylie Lethbridge said: “There was a lot of work undertaken over the last three years which set the foundation for real reform we have been advocating for nearly a decade – structural changes to the taxation regime for alcohol and dealing with the market dominant duopoly in the beer sector.
“The Australian consumer knows that the current situation is untenable, our independent brewing members know it, and the Prime Minister knows it. So there is no reason that the Labor Government can’t hit the ground running and take action on their commitments, promises and recommendations from their own Inquiries.
“Given they don’t have to waste time bedding down a new government, we look forward to working with the Prime Minister and his team as quickly as possible.”
The association said it will continue to work tirelessly to hold the Government and other newly elected Members of Parliament accountable and to deliver on the range of promises made in the lead up to the 2025 election.
The IBA added: “We are optimistic that the major reforms we have been advocating for are on the horizon. And we will continue to work tirelessly to hold the Government accountable.”