Anthony Albanese’s electorate has the highest concentration of craft breweries of all, but he has been accused of turning his back on a once-booming industry that is facing its last brews.
The Prime Minister found love for the second time with his now fiancée, Jodie Haydon, at Young Henrys, one of 18 microbreweries in Sydney’s inner west.
But the pub’s founder, Richard Adamson, and the national body representing more than 600 craft breweries across Australia say Albanese has abandoned the industry, which contributes $1.93 billion to the national economy each year and employs about 10,000 people. .
“When he was in opposition he supported and helped pass the remissions scheme (for excisable alcohol) (in 2021),” said Adamson, who is also president of the Inner West Breweries Association.
“But I guess he has more important things to do right now (than help us).”
Independent Brewers Association chief executive Kylie Lethbridge said Albanese was refusing to listen to the industry’s dire fears, particularly around the need to ease the exorbitant tax on beer, which accounts for about a third of sales. beer sales (third highest in the world after Norway and Finland).
Asked if it was time to ask the Prime Minister to personally intervene to help ease the pressure on the beleaguered industry, he said: ‘We have done it, several times, as recently as last Friday.
“He continues to ignore our request without even the courtesy of a response,” Ms Lethbridge told Daily Mail Australia.
Anthony Albanese has the highest concentration of craft breweries of any federal electorate, but he has turned his back on a once-booming industry grappling with the latest brews.
The Prime Minister found love for the second time with his now fiancée, Jodie Haydon, at Young Henrys, one of 18 microbreweries in Sydney’s inner west.
It goes against a pledge made by the member for Grayndler while in opposition in June 2017 to support his local craft breweries, which include Hawke’s Brewing, co-founded by his late mentor and former prime minister Bob Hawke.
“Among brewers’ concerns is the fact that Commonwealth excise duty is higher on small casks than on large casks, putting brewers at a competitive disadvantage relative to the large casks,” Mr said. Albanian.
“I am disappointed that this anomaly was not addressed in the 2017 budget, but I will continue to support the industry in its push for sensible reform as well as regulatory change at the state and local government level.”
Lethbridge warned the industry may not exist in 12 months without urgent government support as production costs rise by up to 40 per cent, causing two dozen microbreweries to close nationally over the past year.
“We will no doubt see more independent craft breweries close their doors, go through the small business restructuring program or go into voluntary administration if nothing changes,” he said.
‘Unless consumers have some relief in the cost of living, our summer, when warmer weather typically leads to higher sales, will not prevent others from closing their doors, leading to further job losses.
“And the quintessential pint in the pub will remain out of reach for many Australians.”
The average price of a pint of beer in Sydney is now over $15, making a night at the pub with friends more than many.
Adamson said it was now “a question of us holding on until the economy really improves”.
Former Prime Minister and Labor hero Bob Hawke at the craft brewery that bears his name in Sydney
Jodie Haydon and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Canberra football in 2022
“Thank God there wasn’t another rate hike in September,” he said.
“It has been a difficult time for many people.
‘Like other businesses, we had government support (during the COVID-19 pandemic) that kept us afloat at that time.
‘But, coming out of this without the help, the economic changes and some of the breweries deferring excise taxes during that time, thinking that if they reopened, everything would come back to life.
“At a government level, the cupboard is empty and the debt we have deferred really needs to be paid off now, but many breweries don’t have the capacity to do so.”
He said there was no level playing field between independent brewers and the ‘big two’, Lion and CUB, which together own 85 per cent of the market and the majority of beer taps in Australia’s pubs.
‘We had submitted communications to the government on this issue. “The bureaucracy just keeps coming, whether it’s labeling or other compliance measures,” he said.
“The barriers we have to running a small family business are only getting worse.”
Both Lion, which produces XXXX, Tooheys, Stone & Wood, and CUB, maker of popular beers Great Northern, Carlton Draft and VB, are owned by Japanese companies.
“Many beer drinkers would think that these iconic brands would remain Australian owned and hard-earned, they would stay in Australia,” Mr Adamson said.