Julie-Ann Campbell (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Bruce is right; this bill is all about cost of living. It doesn't matter whether we're talking about medicines, it doesn't matter whether we're talking about child care, it doesn't matter whether we are talking about student debt, it doesn't matter whether we are talking about medical bills, and it doesn't matter whether we're talking about beer. This is an Albanese Labor government with its eye fixed, with its clear focus, on making sure that cost of living is the thing we address every day, not through talk but through delivery of key initiatives that make life cheaper and easier for everyday Australians.

In recent years, my community, like many others around the country, has benefited from independent breweries setting up shop. In Moreton, the names Ballistic, Hiker, Slipstream, Helios and Blind Boy are synonymous with quality, synonymous with unique flavours, synonymous with craftsmanship. In fact, I have had that great pleasure of visiting Slipstream on a number of occasions recently, first with the member for Fremantle and second with Senator Farrell to enjoy a good brew in a Queensland beer, sometimes on a hot summer day. It doesn't really matter what the season is; it is always good. I want to take the opportunity to congratulate Slipstream, who were awarded the best beer in Queensland right there on Brisbane's southside.

These breweries are also absolutely loved for being relaxed, casual and enjoyable venues for all the family. They are social hubs and they host a variety of community events. They are so much more, too. Independent breweries are an important part of the local economy. They source ingredients and services from local suppliers and engage food trucks for family nights. They employ local people and they offer pathways to good jobs. In fact, the Independent Brewers Association states that independent breweries employ 51 per cent of all people directly working in Australia's brewery industry despite holding less than eight per cent of market share. 'We contribute 40,400 jobs and total wages of $1.88 billion each year,' is what they have said.

Independent breweries and the industry at large have been doing it tough. The average price for a 425 millilitre glass of beer at a venue has increased by 6.2 per cent in the 12 months to February 2025. Since the start of 2022, beer prices have increased by 10.5 per cent. We know that it is not just these breweries that are doing it tough; Australians are doing it tough, too. Now is the time that we need to do something about that.

The Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill, which accompanies the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 is good news for our independent breweries and it is good news for Australia's pubs, clubs and hospitality workers as well. Labor's 2025-26 budget included a measure to press pause on the automatic CPI indexation of excise and customs duty on draught beer for two years. Beginning on 1 August this year, these duty rates currently increment based on inflation two times a year—in February and in August. As I said, the Labor government understand that these times are tough and, from the very start, this is a government that has talked about being focused on delivery, and we have seen it. We have seen it with 20 per cent off student debt, and many Australians are about to receive a text message to confirm that that has been done. We've seen it with free TAFE being introduced to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to upskill in a TAFE setting with absolutely no money to pay, and we know that that's already happening. We've seen it with cheaper medicines, and on 1 January people will never have to pay more than $25 for a PBS medicine. We know that is happening.

This is another notch in the belt of making sure that life can be a bit cheaper for every Australian. This freeze on indexation applies to beer in kegs, specifically to those individual containers of between eight and 48 litres that hook up to gas or pump systems like the ones used in pubs and in clubs. It also applies to larger containers of over 48 litres that are used in commercial hospitality. The freeze does not apply to bottled beer, spirits or other excisable drinks, ensuring that the benefit flows to hospitality operators as opposed to retailers.

What I'm incredibly pleased about with this bill is its recognition of the importance of our local pubs and clubs in the Australian way of life. Like so many things we've talked about today, these are part of who we are. They're part of our culture. They're part of what makes us us. As mentioned, these places are more than just venues; they are part of the social fabric of towns and suburbs. We gather at them for birthday parties, to have fierce trivia contests, to mark the passing of a family member or to simply spend time with our mates. In short, pubs and clubs are places of community connection and places of belonging.

I always appreciate the very warm welcome I'm given at the Salisbury Community Sports Club; at WestsideHQ in Corinda, just down the road from my home; at the Sunnybank Community & Sports Club; and at so many more across Brisbane's south side. These are not just clubs; as I said, these are places and venues that host things so important to our community. They commemorate Anzac Day, when people come to play a bit of two-up. Recently, at Sunnybank Community & Sports Club, I went to a rugby match celebrating the Pasifika community. They host events with many different multicultural community groups across the breadth and depth of my electorate.

These places also contribute to our economy. They drive local economic growth. They employ approximately 160,000 people across the country. That's 160,000 workers who rely on these venues to stay open and sustainable every day so that they can afford their mortgage, their rent and their groceries. That's why the Albanese Labor government is taking real action to support these community institutions. At its core, this bill is designed to support small businesses. Small businesses are, in so many ways, the beating heart of our economy. They employ so many Australians. They are in every nook and cranny of our community. They protect jobs. It also works to ease the cost-of-living pressures without compromising public health goals or the integrity of our alcohol taxation system.

Around 10,000 venues across this country will benefit directly from this decision from this bill. That includes pubs, bars, taverns and clubs, many of which are small, family-run businesses. In fact, about 75 per cent of these venues are operated by local families who employ local people, sponsor local community events supporting local sporting clubs and contribute to local charity. These are local hubs. These are businesses that have faced wave after wave of economic pressure, from lockdowns during COVID-19 to supply chain challenges, rising import costs and inflation. This measure gives them some breathing space. It's breathing space that they really need, and it reduces the pressure on venue managers and owners to pass on rising costs to customers. It helps them to plan ahead. It helps them to retain staff. It helps them to reinvest in their businesses, because, much like a household and much like any business, planning is what allows local business owners to keep their businesses sustainable for our community. In short, it's a lifeline for small publicans and club managers who have been doing it tough. It means more affordable nights out for families, friends and communities.

Returning to our brewers, and particularly small and independent producers who supply draught beer to local venues, many of them depend on keg sales as a vital source of income. It helps them maintain steady cashflow and keep their teams employed. By pausing indexation, the government is giving these producers the time they need to control expenses, to plan their brewing schedules with confidence and to continue contributing to the economic and social strength of the local communities. And the benefits don't stop there. Farmers, transport operators, equipment suppliers and thousands of small businesses linked to the hospitality supply chain will also feel the positive impact. The aftermarket in this space is absolutely enormous.

This is a cost-of-living measure, and it strengthens small business resilience and supports regional tourism as well. Labor has listened to industry voices. We've listened to brewers, we've listened to publicans, we've listened to small business groups, and we've listened to the public. They've consistently called for relief from automatic excise increases during this period of inflation. The government has responded with a balanced time limited policy that delivers real results without driving up inflation or compromising fiscal discipline. It's about doing this responsibly but also giving people the relief to their hip pocket that they need right here and right now. It's also part of the wider package of support for small business, including extended instant-asset write-offs, help with digital transformation and lower energy costs for small operators.

See this speech in context