Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I've got a few more to run in for the member for Bruce.

This bill gives pubs breathing room, it helps them manage costs and it makes it less likely that price rises get passed on to customers. That's good for small business, good for workers and good for anyone who enjoys an affordable drink at their local.

This is what good government looks like: listening, understanding and acting. When I first raised this issue with the Treasurer, I told him what I was hearing on the ground from everyday Aussies around the Hunter and around the pubs in Cessnock, Singleton and Greta. I said: 'Mate, when I walk into one of those pubs in Cessnock, Toronto, Morisset, Greta, Lake Macquarie or Weston—there are so many to choose from because we do have a few pubs—I see the same thing. Small-business owners are doing everything they can to keep the prices fair, to keep locals coming through the doors and to keep staff in work. But, every time that indexation clock ticks over, they're the ones paying the price.' I said: 'Let's take a bit of pressure off. Let's show some common sense.' And he listened, which is good.

Earlier this year, the Assistant Treasurer moved a motion in this House to freeze beer tax. I do like a nice, ice-cold beer, but I can tell you that the one I had in August when this freeze came in was one of the coldest beers I've had, cause I knew—do you know what it was? It was a Stone & Wood and it was delicious. I really enjoyed it. I followed it up with a Carlton Draught and had a good, enjoyable time with a few of my mates knowing that that price was not going to go up with indexation for two years.

Motions like that are great for signalling intent, but, to make it law, you need legislation. That's why we're here today—to make sure we're getting this legislation right. And that's why we're talking about this. This is a government putting action behind the chat and behind the talk. Some people might ask, 'Why not just cut the beer tax permanently?' I definitely get where they're coming from, but there has to be a balance, and that's why we've designed these measures very carefully. They're targeted at draught beer because we know pubs and clubs are at the heart of our local communities, and that's why we're supporting them so much in this space. This bill gives our pubs, our clubs and our breweries two years of stability to make sure that they are looked after. It supports regional economies, strengthens tourism and recognises the cultural and social importance of a beer at a local pub. It's good for business, it's good for jobs and, I can tell you, it's bloody good for communities as well. Sorry, Deputy Speaker Claydon—it's very good for communities as well.

Having a beer in the Hunter or anywhere else in Australia shouldn't be something that we can't enjoy without worrying about the taxman taking a bigger sip every six months. We get to keep that sip for ourselves now. This bill shows that we're listening, it shows that we understand the pressures on small businesses and it shows that government can act with common sense and compassion along the way.

I'd like to go through a few more of the fantastic venues in the Hunter where I really enjoy having a beer: the Aussie in Cessnock, the Hotel Cessnock, Harrigan's, Peden's, the Valley Brewhouse, Wollombi Tavern—Dr Jurd's Jungle Juice at Wollombi Tavern is famous, Deputy Speaker Claydon, and I'm sure you've heard of it as well. It is a great place to go. There's also the Horse & Jockey in Singleton, the Singleton Diggers, Club Singleton—it's a good place to be—the Lake Macquarie Hotel. There are so many great pubs all around the fantastic Hunter. The Toronto Hotel has one of the best views that you'll see. It looks over beautiful Lake Macquarie, the largest saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere. It is an absolute pleasure to have a beer there with a view like that. I have many more pubs to go through. But, honestly, this is great for the community, great for the Hunter and great for Australia. So I proudly support this bill. I know the people of the Hunter will raise a glass to this. I look forward to raising a glass with you all in the near future. Cheers!

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