Sophie supports local microbrewers in call for tax reform

18-March-2009

In a speech to the Parliament last night, Federal Liberal Member for Indi Mrs Sophie Mirabella MP spoke inn support of local microbrewers across the North-East in their call for urgent tax reform to assist the local industry.

In her address to the parliament, Mrs Mirabella listed for the house the seven local microbrews in the electorate of Indi.

• Sweetwater Brewing Company – Mount Beauty
• Jamieson Brewery - Jamieson
• Buffalo Brewery – Boorhaman
• Bright Brewery – Bright
• Bridge Road Brewers – Beechworth
• Boyntons Feathertop Winery – Porepunkah
• Bintara Brewery – Rutherglen

“These local breweries are important aspects of our community. They employ people, they provide visitors and tourists yet another reason to visit the beautiful North-East and they deserve the Government’s complete support,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The current tax system is a burden under on local microbrewers. I support the campaign for change and would like to see a system akin to the WET scheme.”

“The current definition is far too small as it is capped at 30,000 litres and this needs to be removed. The excise tax refund of 60% of excise duty on beer needs to be increased from the current maximum of $10,000 to the same maximum amount as the wine industry producer rebate under WET, which is 500,000 pa,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The cost of this to Government would be small in comparison to the benefits it would reap in terms of job creation and economic activity.

“It is incumbent on the Rudd Labor Government to do all in its power to remove the impediments of unfair laws, particularly in the area of taxation on an industry that has significant potential to grow even further,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Under the former Coalition Government, we achieved so much for local brewers. The economic importance our wineries needs to be valued by the Rudd Labor Government and I be fighting to ensure that is the case.”