David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

In this year's budget it was announced that, from July this year, brewers and distillers in Australia will be able to claim a refund of 60 per cent of the excise they pay, up to an annual cap of $350,000. It is a great advance. It means that Australian owned brewers and distillers will benefit and continue to grow and employ more people. I recently visited the Farmer's Wife Distillery, in the small village of Allworth, in the Lyne electorate. Kylie and Gavin Sepos produce a boutique, hand-crafted, world-award-winning gin flavoured by botanicals from Australian native plants. I was excited to hear that the business is doing so well and to see that they have plans to construct a bigger distillery and cafe along The Bucketts Way.

Helen and David Black from the Coastal Brewing Company in Forster are so excited because it will allow them to expand as well, and David—known as Jimmy Cox—and Haley from the Tin Shed Brewery in Dungog said this rebate will allow them to hire a full-time brewer. This is a really great initiative supporting the growth of Australian industry. Supply chain is all important, and that includes breweries. They are big employers in regional Australia, and I'm so glad the Liberal and National government is doing things to help small business grow in regional Australia.

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