Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Casey reminds me more of a baker than a brewer, but thank you for that contribution. I wish to speak in the House today on a matter that cuts to the core of Australian identity, not just in culture or economy but in how we relate to one each other. In Australia, when you say, 'Let's have a beer,' what you are really saying is, 'Let's spend time together.' You are saying, 'Let's take a break, let's reconnect, let's share a moment,' with no expectations, no pressure. That sentiment is worth protecting. Across the country from city laneways to outback roadhouses, sports clubs and RSLs, the act of sharing a pint, schooner, pot or middy has remained a deeply Australian gesture. It is a fixture of everyday life, woven into everything from weekend routines, once-in-a-lifetime milestones or even just the fact it is 5pm and you are leaving work. Engagements, wakes, promotions, demotions, cricket wins and footy losses, they all seem to land us at the local with a pint in hand. And the pub itself, that humble institution, is more than just a venue; it is our unofficial community hall, a place where birthdays are celebrated, meat raffles are drawn and people come together not because they must but because they want to. I have been to countless venues across the north from the Gawler Exchange to the Angle Vale Tavern and no matter the size, postcode or whoever is pouring the beers, that sense of belonging is always the same. It is not about the status, income or background. In the pub, you can be a sparky, a student, a senior citizen or a small-business owner, and everyone's just there to unwind and be part of something familiar. That's the magic of the pub—equality over the bar. The price of a pint doesn't vary depending on your politics. It doesn't matter where you went to school or where you're from, and that shared experience, that conversation over a cold one, is part of how we strengthen the social fabric in this country. In fact, when I speak to local veterans at the Salisbury RSL or when I drop by the Playford Bowling Club, I always see the unwritten rule: it's not the beer that matters; it's the mateship. As trivial as that might sound to some, it's in these spaces that you'll find connection, belonging and even mental health support happening informally but powerfully.

Let's not forget, it's also a proud part of our national pastimes. When watching the cricket—our national sport—at any level, it's always a scorching-hot day, but you have a draught beer in hand. There is a long list of things that can be considered Australian, but it's definitely up there. Even our prime ministers have known that feeling—mingling in the stands, sleeves rolled up, beer in hand, watching the game not as a politician but as an Aussie.

These moments matter. They help define who we are. That's why government should never treat communal spaces such as the pub as an afterthought. They're more than bricks and mortar; they're the cornerstone of community. But we must also speak to the economic reality that underpins them. Hospitality is a huge employer in Australia, one of the most diverse and most community-facing sectors in our economy. It includes bar staff, cooks, cleaners, brewery techs, grain producers, logistics teams, refrigeration mechanics and young people on their first job. These are working Australians who often work the late nights on weekends or public holidays to keep the good times rolling for anyone who wants a cold one with their mates.

In South Australia beer production is part of our industrial story. Coopers Brewery is an iconic institution. You would be hard-pressed not to find a Coopers logo on any street in Adelaide. They even sponsor Adelaide United's soccer stadium. West End, too, is another iconic brewery that has woven itself into what it means to be South Australian—and who doesn't love a good red tin? And we're now seeing the rise of dozens of independent brewers who are crafting unique beer while providing local jobs, supporting agriculture and drawing tourists. These are enterprises built from the ground up by risktakers and innovators who are backing locals, and they're all relying on a thriving venue economy, because it's the kegs flowing through pubs and clubs that generate cash flow, enable hiring and keep the lights on.

So, when rising costs—from insurance hikes and energy prices to automatic tax increases—threaten these venues, we must act, and that's exactly what the Albanese Labor government is doing. As of 1 August 2025, we have paused the indexation of draught beer excise and excise-equivalent customs duties for two years. That's a real, meaningful change designed to help local venues remain viable and competitive. This measure is targeted. It applies only to draught beer poured from eight- to 48-litre containers—your typical keg sizes—and to larger containers used in high-volume hospitality settings. It does not apply to packaged beer, spirits or wine. This isn't about retailers or bottle shops. This is for pubs, clubs and hospitality venues.

Recently I had the opportunity to speak with Damian McGee, who runs the Exchange Hotel in Gawler. He told me that he was fully supportive of this bill. It means that patrons get a fair go when they're at the pub and are not hit by an unfair price hike. It also means that business gets retained—a benefit for everyone involved in running a business.

This bill, and the benefits it draws, is a decision grounded in fairness and pragmatism, because small-business owners can't plan properly if they're blindsided by tax rises every six months and patrons shouldn't be priced out of their local by the incremental hikes that compound year after year. There are around 10,000 hospitality venues around the country that will benefit directly from this measure. Roughly 75 per cent of those are small, independent businesses, many of them family run and many employing locals. Altogether, the brewing and hospitality sector supports over 160,000 jobs tied to draught beer. From brewers to truckies, this measure reaches them all and ensures they have certainty. It helps them hold their margins and it gives them the confidence to keep investing in staff, venues and innovation.

Let me be clear, this is also about regional resilience. In the north and in towns right across Australia the pub is often the last true gathering space. When the banks are closed, the post office is gone and the sporting clubs struggle, it's the pub that remains. Lose that and you don't just lose a business; you lose a community anchor. This policy protects that anchor and keeps it firmly grounded. It supports independent brewers and microbrewers, those who don't have the marketing might of multinationals but who live and work in the same towns as the people they serve. For them, keg sales are often the difference between breaking even and shutting the doors. For the wider supply chain—the real grain growers, the forklift drivers, the fitters and turners—this pause keeps production moving. One shift cut at a brewery could mean fewer deliveries, slower distribution or deferred upgrades. It's all connected, and we're acting to protect those connections.

We know the industry has done it tough: COVID lockdowns, staff shortages, delivery delays, rent increases—all of it compounding year after year. This isn't just a tax measure; it's a lifeline. It's a signal that the government understands and is willing to act. That's what good government looks like: listening, not lecturing; partnering, not posturing; delivering relief where it's needed most.

This measure forms part of a broader suite of cost-of-living support delivered by our government. We've raised the minimum wage and award wages by 3½ per cent. We've lifted superannuation contributions to 12 per cent, helping you feel more comfortable in retirement. We're increasing paid parental leave to 24 weeks, ensuring you can spend more time with your family and still feel supported. We've cut 20 per cent from student loan debts for more than three million Australians. We've cut tax for every taxpayer and have legislated more cuts to come. For students in critical sectors like teaching, nursing and social work, we've rolled out Commonwealth practical placement payments, recognising their contribution and easing placement costs. We've delivered long-overdue pay rises for aged-care workers, and we've rolled out relief on emergency bills, health care and essential services, all while keeping inflation heading in the right direction.

Although I could go on about the positive changes this Labor government has ushered in already, it is worth noting it is not all just smart policy. It is steady leadership, all with the plan to try to make life for the average Aussie battler better. We know that inflationary pressures continue to affect families here at home, and we're not immune to global cost increases, but we are responding with discipline, care and action. That's the mark of responsible government—staying focused when the economic pressures are high and delivering relief with actions like this bill.

The draft beer excise pause is part of that same philosophy. We understand the importance of a beer off the tap with your mates, and we want to protect that. This is temporary, targeted and tightly scoped. It doesn't undermine our health commitments, it doesn't rewrite the alcohol tax system, but it does offer relief when it counts and where it counts. Fairness is not just a value; it's what defines the classic pub test. It's fairness for a mum-and-dad operator running the local tavern who are trying to keep staff on, stay competitive and avoid raising prices on their regulars. It's fairness for a casual worker clocking off a late shift who depends on those weekend hours behind the bar or in the kitchen to help pay rent or cover textbooks. It's fairness for a pensioner visiting their favourite club for a midweek meal, relying on those outings not just for sustenance but for social connection and companionship. It's fairness for the brewer in a regional town who is not just making beer but employing locals, sourcing local supplies and maybe even sponsoring the local sports club. This pause in excise helps level the playing field for them too against bigger competitors and unpredictable costs. It means they can plan production runs, stabilise overheads and focus on growth, not just survival.

This measure also supports the hidden workforce, the people you don't always see in the front bar: the truck driver delivering kegs at dawn, the cleaner ensuring the club is spotless before the doors open, the refrigeration technician who fixes the cool room so the beer stays cold even in the middle of the searing South Australian summer. These are not just lines on a budget passed through parliament; they are our neighbours, our family members and our constituents.

This decision aligns with our broader commitment to back in small businesses, not just with words but with tangible support—from digital transformation grants that help venues modernise booking systems and manage inventory to energy efficiency incentives that allow clubs and hostels to cut power bills by upgrading refrigeration or installing solar, from extended instant asset write-offs that allow investment in kitchen upgrades or new tap systems to training support that ensures young workers in the north can develop hospitality skills and advance their careers locally. This is a government that sees value in small business, not only as an engine of the economy but as a cornerstone of national life. When small businesses succeed, communities stay strong. When the local pub thrives, the town thrives. When workers feel supported, everyone benefits.

I'm proud that we're not only listening to brewers, publicans and industry groups but also co-designing solutions with them: practical, responsible and targeted measures that reflect what the industry has asked for and what the moment demands. This is a government acting with care, clarity and confidence in the role that small business plays in shaping the Australia we all share. The support for this measure—from the Brewers Association and the Australian Hotels Association to independent brewers across South Australia—shows we've listened. Every time we support a pub, we support jobs. Every time we ease pressure on a local venue, we make connection more accessible. Every time we stand up for small business, we stand up for our values. This pause on draught beer excise isn't just economic; it's social. It's cultural, it's Australian and it's smart, responsible and timely. That's why I proudly commend this bill to the House.

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