Robert Oakeshott (Lyne, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, anything for a free beer! The motion put forward by the member for Lyons this evening is good policy and it is sensible, and that is reflected by the tripartisan support of government members, opposition members and Independent members. Having talked on the ground with several of the microbrewers on the mid North Coast, which represents one of the most important tourism areas in New South Wales, where the food and wine trail is one that certainly many in the tourism industry are trying to grow, I know there is frustration that a government policy can inhibit people wanting to invest in small businesses. While we within government—federal, state and local—are comfortable with the concept of food and wine trails, we do not seem to have grasped yet the concept of food and beer trails. We certainly seem to have struggled with the concept of separating big brewers and small brewers just as we separate big business and small business. I would hope that tonight, with this motion, we do start to see some reflection on this by government that leads to some policy reform that will encourage the small business operators and entrepreneurs trying to grow microbreweries and, therefore, grow the tourism industry throughout Australia, particularly in regional Australia.

The proposal is that existing provisions of the excise regulations be modernised to permit brewers to obtain a refund of 60 per cent of excise duty paid in any one financial year, up to a maximum of half a million dollars per year, and that the definition of ‘microbrewer’, which caps production at 30,000 litres a year, be removed from the regulations. As I say, it seems sensible policy, and the cost to government is minimal. In fact, picking up on what the previous speaker said, over time I think we would see a benefit to government by encouraging some entrepreneurship within Australia, and I would certainly hope that we see if not in this budget round then in one very soon some positive reform and reflection by government on this area.

The point with regard to current times of global financial pressures which I think is a standout for government to reflect on in the short term is the figure of three per cent. Three per cent of Australian-made beer is drunk within this country. We hear lots of debate in this place about retail sectors and monopolies or duopolies. Also, in recent times, I notice one newspaper—the Daily Telegraph; I do not know whether other papers around Australia are doing it—running campaigns trying to up the ante on the ‘made in Australia’ message. Here is a classic example before most people on most nights of the week as a true example of an opportunity to do something about the ‘made in Australia’ message. If we can get the policy settings right, and if we can at the same time—also picking up on the message from previous speakers—through some good policy change, drive home the message of the boutique and craft beer market about drinking less, drinking safer and getting away from the binge drinking culture and actually enjoying the different opportunities that the boutique beer markets provide, then I think that we in this place would be doing some good work.

For those within the media who want to drive campaigns at the moment about ‘made in Australia’, the message that we are talking about tonight in a tripartite way is a beauty, if they want to effect an outcome within executive government to promote, not in a protectionist way, entrepreneurship and small business within Australia. It is sad that only three per cent of the beer all of us drink is made within this country. I think that as policymakers and as a country we could do an awful lot better.

See this speech in context