Matt Gregg (Deakin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In every corner of the country, pubs, clubs and the people who power them have held communities together through tough times, and now we are backing them with targeted, responsible relief through a two-year pause on the indexation of the draught beer excise and the equivalent customs duty commencing on 1 August 2025. This will benefit around 10,000 small venues—pubs, clubs, bars and taverns. All will benefit from this. Seventy-five per cent of these are small family businesses employing local people. This two-year pause to the increasing costs will help keep the operating costs of these venue stable and gives small venues the certainty they need to plan, to retain staff and to reinvest in the futures of their businesses, perhaps taking advantage of the instant asset write-off from this government.

To be clear, this applies only to draught beer served from an eight-to-48-litre container, or, for the larger venues, those 48-plus-litre kegs. It's not for bottles, cans or spirits. It's not the lion's share of alcohol that's consumed, which is consumed in homes, not in licensed venues where you have responsible service of alcohol and a supportive environment for people. This means that we ensure the support goes to the venues, those community hubs. It helps to stabilise the tax component of the price of a pint, reducing the pressure on venue operators and customers alike. It offers breathing space after years of economic strain, pandemic impacts, the loss of customers, supply shocks and some rising input costs. It's a practical, temporary relief measure that will not in any way fuel inflation, because it's not adding any more money to the economy; it will simply put a pause on what would otherwise be a mechanical price increase.

That ability to plan ahead is so important for the 160,000-plus workers who are employed in this industry. For many of us, one of our first jobs was working in hospitality, in many of the small towns. Whether it's the Criterion Hotel in the seat of the member for Gippsland, the Seanchai Irish Bar in the seat of the member for Wannon, or the Burvale Hotel in my wonderful seat of Deakin, these venues are community hubs. They're not the same as other businesses; these are places where we go to celebrate, to mourn and to engage with our neighbours, in good times and bad. It's particularly important for regional areas where the pub is often the very heart of the community.

It's not just for-profit business to whom this will be a great help. I've got a lot of local bowls clubs, footy clubs and cricket clubs who rely on revenue generated from draught beer to help subsidise the important work they do, whether it's supporting a family on a lower income with the cost of a uniform or footy boots, or keeping up the quality of the venue. They are covering essential costs for community organisations who are doing important work and providing a sense of social connection. I've been to enough bowls clubs to know that the avoidance of an increase to the price of beer is going to be a very welcome and important measure, including for many pensioners who go to the bowls club to enjoy a schooner or two every week. This modest bit of support will make all the difference.

It's a supply chain that is full of jobs—truck drivers, equipment technicians, farmers and workers in the transport sector. There are so many indirect benefits when we support these incredibly important venues. It also has a huge benefit to the consumer, because it reduces the pressure to pass on future costs, it makes the cost of living just that little bit easier. It's designed for the Australian pub patron, the person at the bowls club and the person out and about—not the person drinking at home, because we know that's where a lot of the less healthy behaviours are seen.

It's part of a broader plan around cost-of-living relief. This is one of several measures. If we look just those after July this year, we can see a number of them. The national minimum wage was increased by 3.5 per cent. The superannuation guarantee was increased to 12 per cent. Paid parental leave was increased to 24 weeks. Super is now being paid on government paid parental leave. There will be another $150 in energy bill relief before the end of the year, and $10,000 in incentive payments for new housing apprentices. There are cheaper home batteries. We're cutting 20 per cent off student loan debts for three million Australians. Commonwealth prac placements have already started as well, with support for nursing, midwifery, teaching and social-work students. Hardworking aged-care nurses received the next instalment of their pay rise in October following the first instalment in March this year. This is part of a broader mission to ease cost-of-living pressures for Australians as well as being a responsible measure in support of businesses.

Pubs, clubs and taverns all around the country have been doing it tough for a while now, but they're also the very places that are there for people when they're doing it tough. Any small relief we can provide is a very good thing. We need to also consider that this is part of a significant number of measures to support small businesses. We're helping them with technology, with the instant asset write-off, and with energy efficiency and energy bill relief. There is a lot being done at the same time. This isn't an isolated measure and it isn't going to be the fix of the economy by itself. It is one of many measures focused on being well-targeted and delivering real and effective cost-of-living relief as well as relief to the cost of doing business.

I think of the many pubs that I have been to over the years, and draught beer sits at the centre of the business model. It's one of the things that makes going to the pub different from anywhere else. The taste of draught beer is often better—anyone will tell you that—and it has become an essential part of many of the bowls and other clubs in my area where draught beer is routinely sold. Over the years, these clubs, pubs and organisations have done what they had to do to survive what are very difficult times. The habits of consumers have changed. More people are now drinking alcohol at home. The habits of socialising have also changed; they're slowly changing back but they've gone through a rough few years. Anything we can do to support this industry to regain its momentum is going to be a very good thing.

Let's face it; the pandemic shook the economy around like a snow globe. It has taken time for businesses and industries to recalibrate. We are seeing recovery, but it's not instantaneous. As a government, we have to look at how we can assist the economy to recalibrate, re-normalise and regain its momentum and make sure that we're increasing productivity along the way. Every single thing we can do to help business out, even if it's as simple as pausing those routine mechanical tax increases, I know it is appreciated and something that industry has pushed for. I've spoken to a lot of pub owners, including meeting some at the Burvale Hotel in Nunawading in my electorate, and they're very grateful for this measure. It's not only an economic measure; it's also a demonstration that this government has their back. We've got the backs of businesses, we are focused on their interests and concerns, and we appreciate how important they are as part of the economy. Between breweries and pubs and clubs, we're talking about 160,000 jobs. These are people's livelihoods, and to be able to provide that certainty to the organisations who employ them means that their jobs are now safer because of this very minor relief.

The good news is, as I was saying before, that this is in no way inflationary. Because this is a pause, it does not add money to the economy or make any other problems worse. It is simply giving them some breathing space so they can know what the future holds with a little bit more certainty and can invest in their businesses and organisations. The bowls clubs can continue to provide affordable hospitality services, engage their communities, support some of our most vulnerable people and provide a meeting place—in good times and bad—for members of our community.

It's amazing that something that is really quite a modest measure can have such a powerful and profound impact across so many people, but that is the genius behind this temporary measure. It's one of those 'from little things, big things grow' scenarios because this small measure will have so many secondary impacts. While I know that secondary impacts are not something considered in Treasury modelling or other things we read, they are real and they are profound. We're talking about livelihoods, we're talking about jobs and, in the case of pubs and clubs and other venues, we're talking about community life. We're talking about togetherness—maintaining opportunities for people to get out of the house, meet with one another and gather. We achieve that by ensuring that the venues that they do that in are sustainable, that the costs are moderated as much as possible and that we acknowledge times that are challenging.

We know that inflation over a number of years post COVID meant that CPI increases were significant, and so putting a pause on them is a reasonable response to ensure that we can still achieve the important health incomes of having the alcohol excise and the relevant customs duties but, at the same time, give businesses a break when they need it and give consumers a break when they need it. It shows that the Albanese Labor government is standing up for small business, it is standing up for consumers, and it is ensuring that prices remain as low as they can for all involved.

As I was saying, this is not an isolated measure; this is part of a narrative of a government that has been laser focused on the cost of living. Whether it is health care, whether it is education, whether it is free TAFE or whether it is ensuring that people on practical placements receive $331 a week of support, we're focused on those who need assistance to build the best life possible for themselves so they can liberate their talents, and this is just one of the many measures.

Cost-of-living relief is also given with the Medicare urgent care clinics. It's given to small business through unfair contracts legislation. There is so much reform across the board, and, for small business, this is also one of many measures. We're working with them to increase their cybersecurity. We've changed the tax settings so they have that extension of the instant asset write-off. We're working with business to ensure regulations that are duplicated and don't make a lot of sense are being cut. We're reviewing about 400 different regulations at the moment to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness at a government level as well. We are a government that is focused on supporting small business in any way we can. By cutting inefficiencies, we are ensuring that government is a facilitator and is not unnecessarily getting in the way, and, every now and then, you just need a bit of an economic break, and that is exactly what this important measure does. It provides a break at a time when it's needed most. It is temporary. It's impact on the budget is going to be negligible compared to the benefits, and it's something that is well targeted, given the very real and important role alcohol taxes play in the health of our nation.

We've seen declining consumption of alcohol in many areas of the country, although I note that there is more work to be done in rural and regional areas, but the mission of all of those measures remains as it is. Temporarily pausing the increase in the beer excise and equivalent customs duty is a sensible, responsible and proportionate measure at this point in time that will have a significant and profound impact for the very people we're trying to support—the hardworking small-business owners who are employing locals all around the country, not just in suburbs like the ones I represent, but in the small country towns where we all know the pub is really the heart of the town. If the pub closes, community life dissipates and people just stay home.

We need to ensure that those essential businesses, those community hubs, are supported to be successful and that they are supported to continue doing the important work they do for their communities, and that includes not only the services they provide directly but also the sponsorships they offer to sports clubs, to community groups, to the Lions clubs and to the Rotarys. Often the first sponsor on the list of a given footy club, whether it's in the country or in the suburbs, is the local pub. They have been community benefactors for a very, very long time. They are not only an important part of our economy and our employment sectors, but an essential part of local communities. They're the places we meet, but they're also the sponsors and the employers, and they are sometimes the beating heart of industry in a small town.

I cannot think of a thriving small town in Australia that doesn't have a pub or two or three at the centre of it. This initiative to support those businesses, those largely small businesses—we're saying, of about 10,000 taverns, about 7,500 of them are small family business making modest profits but keeping the doors open, and they have done so through very, very tough times over the pandemic. They are the great survivors of our industry.

We know the hospitality sector has been doing it tough for the last few years. The stats on that are very plain. If we can bring in a measure that is not inflationary, that is supportive of that industry and that will also help to protect jobs and the community benefits, then it's something everyone in this chamber should be supporting. But it's something that needs to be done in a steady, responsible way, because all actions have effects. In my view, this is a fantastically calibrated intervention. It not only ensures that it is consistent with our targeted approach to cost-of-living relief but it also reflects an approach by good, steady government that has real results and is calibrated to supporting communities in a way that does not have broader negative implications on our local economy. I commend the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer for the work they've done with this measure. I'm also proud to say that it was a promise made and a promise kept by the Albanese Labor government. We're not the party of core and non-core promises. We say what we mean and we will deliver on the commitments we made to the people at the 2025 election and will continue to do so. I commend this bill to the House, and raise a glass to the good people of Australia.

David Moncrieff (Hughes, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One of my favourite ads of all time tells us that a man's got to win, and to win he has to get on top and stay there. You can't do that without a canoe. You've got to have the biggest, strongest, longest canoe. Life can be tough, and canoes can be awkward. So why not just ignore it all with a refreshing Carlton Draught? Beer has played a significant part in Australian society, notably through its advertising. Who could forget the big ad—the very big ad. I can't believe how big it was. A few years ago I went to see The Dismissal with the now member for Banks and, to conjure up the sound of the seventies, they played the 'I feel like a Tooheys' jingle. In our films, who could forget the iconic scene in Crocodile Dundee in which the world was introduced to Michael J 'Crocodile' Dundee in an Aussie pub.

Australian pubs are part of our culture, part of our social life and part of the way that we connect with each other. It's not about what's behind the bar; it's about jobs, families and communities. Sometimes you just want to go where everybody knows your name. But catching up with your mates shouldn't break the bank, and that's why I'm very happy to support this measure.

From 1 August 2025, the Albanese Labor government paused indexation of draught beer excise and excise-equivalent custom duties for two years. This crisp, full-bodied reform will mean the tax on a keg will not keep creeping up every six months like the head on a badly poured pint. This is practical, targeted relief not just for pubs, clubs and brewers but for everyday Aussies. This measure applies to containers between four and 48 litres—the kegs you see rolled into pubs every day—and to containers over 48 litres used in larger venues. It doesn't apply to bottled or canned beer, spirits or other excisable beverages. This is about helping hospitality operators and about keeping the price of a pint steady for everyday Australians.

Across Australia, around 10,000 hospitality venues will benefit and around 75 per cent of those are small, family-run businesses. It means jobs for bar staff, chefs, cleaners and security. It means work for the truck driver delivering the kegs and the farmer growing the barley. It means a pub stays open and the whole supply chain can keep moving. This is a targeted measure, it's temporary, it's fiscally responsible and it will cost the budget around $95 million over four years. It is a modest investment compared to the benefits for jobs and for communities, and it does not change the overall structure of alcohol taxation or weaken public health objectives. On this side of the House, we remain committed to responsible consumption. We are not saying, 'Drink more beer.' We're saying, 'Let us ensure the price of a pint doesn't go through the roof,' while small businesses are still recovering from the conditions they experienced under the previous government.

This is about jobs. Nationally, approximately 160,000 Australians work in the hospitality and brewing sectors that rely on these venues. These are jobs for young people starting out, for parents juggling shifts and for skilled chefs and managers who keep venues running. When these venues struggle, jobs are at risk, not just behind the bar but across the supply chain. This measure is good for brewers. Many brewers are small, independent producers who rely heavily on keg sales to maintain cash flow and jobs.

One such brewer is Slim Pickin's Brewhouse in Engadine, a small-scale craft brewery passionate about crafting unique small-batch rotating beers. Pausing indexation will help brewers like Slim Pickin's manage costs, plan production and continue investing in local communities like Engadine.

This reform also has reached beyond pubs and brewers. It flows to farmers, transport operators, equipment suppliers and thousands of small businesses linked to the hospitality supply chain. A pub staying open means it buys local produce. It hires local tradespeople. It keeps money circulating in the local economy. This is a cost-of-living measure that also strengthens small-business resilience. It's a clear example of responsible government action designed to make a difference without driving up inflation or compromising fiscal discipline.

This reform is just another part of the suite of cost-of-living relief being delivered by the Albanese Labor government. Since 1 July, we have delivered a 3.5 per cent increase in the national minimum wage and award wages, making an enormous difference to the lives of the most vulnerable workers. When those opposite were in power, they kept wages for vulnerable people low and they were proud of it. They said that low wages were a 'deliberate design feature' of their 'economic architecture'. They sacrificed the wellbeing of vulnerable Australians for the sake of a perceived economic benefit that never eventuated. On this side of the House, we know that paying workers a living wage benefits the economy. That's part of the reason why our economic outcomes have been so superior to what they achieved in their time in office.

We're also raising the super guarantee to 12 per cent, meaning more Australians will be able to afford a retirement and be more independent of government support in their old age. Paid Parental Leave is also increasing to 24 weeks, with super now paid on all government paid parental leave. There's another $150 in energy bill relief before the end of the year. There's $10,000 in incentive payments for new housing apprentices.

We're also helping households with the cost of energy through our Cheaper Home Batteries Program. This program has seen overwhelming take-up since its inception in July this year as more and more households see the benefits that come from the new energy economy. This program is saving Australians thousands off their bills each day, and it's only growing.

Through our solar sharer offer, the default market offer, retailers will be required to offer free electricity to households for at least three hours in the middle of the day when solar generation is at its peak, extending the benefits of the energy transition to Australians right across my electorate of Hughes and across the country and providing stability to energy demand.

We're also cutting 20 per cent off student loan debt for three million Australians, removing a financial barrier that has affected the weekly finances of millions of Australians and kept many of them out of the housing market.

We have made medicines cheaper, taking PBS prescriptions to only $25. The last time PBS prescriptions were $25 it was 2004 and we were cheering on Brad Pitt in the 2004 film Troy. And, of course, we're restoring bulk-billing. Those opposite tried to end bulk-billing. They tried to introduce co-payments and make people pay for their primary health care. The Leader of the Opposition as health minister provided absolutely no help to those seeking to bulk-bill. But we are fixing that. From 1 November, we are restoring bulk-billing as the norm in Australia.

And more is coming, with further tax cuts for every taxpayer, another 50 Medicare urgent care clinics and expanded bulk-billing. We have done this with responsible economic management. We have kept inflation down. When we came to office, inflation was about six or seven per cent. Now inflation has a 'three' in front of it. That responsible management has empowered the Reserve Bank to make three interest rate cuts this year, reducing costs for mortgage holders and small businesses across the nation.

This freeze to the excise is part of that responsible management. It's about keeping local venues open, keeping people in work and keeping communities connected. That's what Labor governments do; they protect decent jobs and they give our communities the environment they need to thrive, connect and grow.

This measure is about giving small businesses the breathing space they need to plan ahead, retain staff and reinvest in their businesses. It's about supporting Australian brewers, particularly small and independent producers, who rely on keg sales to maintain cash flow and jobs. And, yes, it's about making sure that when Australians head to their local for a cold one they're not greeted with a nasty surprise. Let's face it, no-one wants to pay champagne prices for a schooner of beer; that would leave a bitter taste!

If this measure helps keep the price of a pint steady, that's something worth raising a glass to. Let's give our pubs, clubs and brewers the fair go they deserve. This government is protecting jobs, keeping communities stronger and protecting Australians. Let's make sure that when Australians raise a glass, they toast not just to good friends and good times but to good, responsible government. I commend the bills to the House.

Jo Briskey (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Maribyrnong is known for many things—iconic sporting venues, historic shopping strips and long-established suburbs that have helped shape Melbourne's identity for well over a century. With such strong foundations, it's no surprise that our electorate is also home to many of Melbourne's most popular pubs and hospitality venues. In suburbs across Maribyrnong the local pub isn't just somewhere to grab a drink; it's the beating heart of the neighbourhood. It's where people come together, celebrate wins big and small, decompress after long days, share laughter and look after one another.

That's why these bills, the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, which put a simple, sensible two-year pause on draught beer excise indexation, are so welcome. This keeps the tax on the keg steady and stops the price of a pint from creeping up when people are already struggling with cost of living everywhere else. And, importantly, it backs in the pubs, clubs, brewers and hospitality workers that are such a big part of life in my electorate. This is a measure people can genuinely feel in their weekly routines, in the budgets of local families and in the life of their sports clubs and community groups, who rely on their local venues as meeting places and social hubs.

Let me paint a picture. If you're in Essendon on a Friday arvo you'll see locals piling into the Linc or the Royal after work. In Ascot Vale you've got punters catching up at the Union or the recently re-opened Laurel. In Kensington the Melbourne Cup crowd may be long gone for the year but the Doutta Galla Hotel is still buzzing and full of character. Up in Gladstone Park the family run Gladstone Park Hotel remains the go-to spot for birthdays, knock-offs, community raffles—you name it. These aren't just iconic local pubs; they're community gathering places that double as dining rooms, meeting spaces, live music venues, sports hubs and unofficial community centres—with much better food!

Behind the bar, keeping everything moving, are hospitality workers—bartenders pulling beers, flat out during the footy; the waiter navigating a packed dining room on a Saturday night; and the kitchen crew sweating it out to keep parmas flying out the door. They're the heartbeat of the industry. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the hardworking hospo members of the United Workers Union, who fight for fair hours, secure jobs and decent conditions, strengthening the very venues that keep our communities connected.

For years now, pubs and venues have been hit by challenge after challenge. First, the pandemic smashed their revenue and threw their future into complete uncertainty. Then supply chain issues pushed the cost of things up—power bills, produce prices, keg transport and insurance costs. Our government recognises that and recognises the pressure our publicans are under. Every automatic excise increase pushed the price of draught beer higher and higher until the cost curve started to resemble a skate park.

Publicans across Ascot Vale and Moonee Ponds have told me directly that they can't keep raising prices, because people are already struggling, but they can't absorb the rising costs either. That's the reality of Maribyrnong and right across the country. These are small operators, family run businesses and local employers trying to stay afloat while doing the right thing by their staff and their communities. They're not making noise for attention; they are genuinely under pressure. When local venues are under pressure, so are local jobs, so are apprenticeships, so are young workers earning their first pay cheques and so are the suppliers and the brewers who rely on the venues to survive. This measure helps steady the ship. And, when you steady the ship for a pub, you steady life for hundreds of people around it.

Now, let's talk about the brewers because they're doing it tough too—especially the small independent producers who rely heavily on keg sales. Across Maribyrnong, it is widely understood that small brewers are carrying immense cost pressures. Raw materials are up, freight is up, and packaging is up. These aren't multinational companies with global buffers and giant reserves; they're local businesses that are employing local people and bringing creativity, craftmanship and distinct Victorian character into Australia's beer scene. This pause gives them breathing room. It's the space they need to plan production, retain staff and continue contributing to local jobs. Let's be honest. Victorians love independent beer. We take pride in our small brewers. They bring flavour, innovation and a sense of community identity you simply don't get from the large multinationals. Keeping them viable keeps choice alive and keeps a tap list interesting, which every publican and every regular appreciates.

The best thing about this measure is how targeted it is. It applies only to draught beer, which is in the kegs that pubs and clubs serve from. It doesn't apply to bottles, cans, spirits or RTDs—just the stuff on tap. That's deliberate. This isn't about cheap alcohol or encouraging people to overindulge and it's not about rewriting the entire alcohol tax framework. It's about one thing: supporting a sector that strengthens communities, employs locals and keeps our suburbs vibrant. And because it's time limited, a two-year pause, it provides relief without undermining long-term tax policy or public health measures. Let me talk about why this really matters in a community like mine.

In Maribyrnong, a pub isn't just a pub. It's where footy fans go to celebrate and commiserate in equal measure. It's where local tradies gather after they knock off early on a warm Friday. It's where young people get their first job and where families head for a parma when they can't be bothered cooking. It's where local sporting clubs host their presentations. It's where community groups hold fundraisers. It's where trivia nights raise money for kids sports kits and school camps. It's also where our new migrants get a genuine taste of Australian community life. It's where our older residents stay connected. It's where loneliness lifts, even for a moment. It's where laughter rolls through the room and where conversations jump across generations like they've always belonged together. When a pub goes under, that little ecosystem goes with it. That whole pocket of community joy disappears. We can't take these places for granted.

Hospitality workers know better than anyone what happens when a venue is under pressure. They're the first to lose hours, the first to have shifts cut and the first to feel the insecurity that comes with unpredictable rosters. They were hit hardest through the pandemic, and many are still putting their pieces back together. Wages in hospitality have been historically low, conditions have often been inconsistent, and burnout is real. Giving venues stability helps give workers stability. And when workers feel secure the whole community benefits. Let's remember that pubs and brewers don't operate in isolation. Behind every keg is a farmer growing barley and hops; there's a truck driver hauling the keg from the brewery to the pub; there's a technician making sure the taps are flowing; there's a linen service washing uniforms and tablecloths; there's a muso playing an acoustic set in the corner on a Sunday afternoon; and there's the local sports club using the pub as its unofficial clubhouse. The whole chain of jobs and small businesses is strengthened when pubs are strong.

Some folk might say: 'It's just beer. Why does it matter?' Most people in my community would answer that without even thinking. The local pub is where friendships begin. It's where footy arguments run longer than the AFL season. It's where someone will always ask how your week has been and will genuinely care about the answer. For older residents, shift workers and people doing it tough, it can be the most important social place that they have. It can be the place they feel welcome and the place they feel part of something. When prices rise too quickly, people stay home. When people stay home, venues struggle. When venues struggle, hours get cut. When hours get cut, families feel the pinch. It's all connected. This bill helps break that chain of strain.

This fits into something bigger. While we're keeping the cost of a pint steady, we're also delivering one of the strongest cost-of-living packages Australia has seen in years. Wages are up. Superannuation is strengthening. Parents have more support, with expanded paid parental leave. Power bill relief is easing household pressure. Student debts are shrinking instead of ballooning. Prac students in nursing, teaching, midwifery and social work are finally receiving payments. Bulk-billing has been expanded. More urgent care clinics are opening. Aged-care workers are receiving long-overdue pay rises. All of this is happening while we're keeping inflation low.

This is Labor delivering on its promise to build a better future while supporting working Australians and providing meaningful cost-of-living relief. It's why this measure sits so comfortably within the government's broader economic approach. It's simple. It's smart. It's aimed exactly where the pressure is. Stabilise the cost of a keg, and you stabilise the cost of running a venue. Stabilise the cost of running a venue, and you protect jobs. Protect jobs, and communities breathe easier.

Publicans, workers and locals across Maribyrnong tell me the same thing. They're proud of their community and its local institutions. They don't want a special carve-out. They want predictability, they want stability and they want a government that listens. This bill delivers precisely that, so here it is. The bill keeps the lights on at the places where Maribyrnong comes to life. It keeps the parmas coming, the footy banter flowing, the Friday arvo rush humming and our venues full of laughter long into the night. It keeps workers on shift, brewers brewing and locals able to enjoy a pint without needing to phone their bank manager first.

In my community the pub is a humble place, but it is where the magic happens. It's where friendships spark, ideas are swapped, sports teams are celebrated and someone inevitably shouts, 'I'll get the next round'—even when they absolutely shouldn't. It's where new migrants meet their neighbours, where older residents find familiar faces and where working people get the break they deserve. This bill backs that spirit—the working-class heart that defines Maribyrnong, the spirit that lives in an ice-cold beer shared in good company. It gives every punter, whether they're at 'The Doot' on race day or 'The Linc' during footy season, a fair go. It's practical, it's sensible and it is exactly what our community needs. I'm absolutely thrilled to support it. I commend the bill to the House.

Sarah Witty (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak today in support of the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 because Melbourne understands hospitality. In Melbourne, hospitality is not a backdrop; it is the soundtrack—from the clutter of plates on Brunswick Street to the roar of a pub before the siren at the G. We know that Melbourne is the heart of Australia's hospitality scene, and these bills keep it that way. The indexation pause that began on 1 October 2025 is another example of how this government is supporting small businesses and the workers they employ.

Under these bills, the scheduled increases from August 2025 through to February 2027 will not occur. Instead, indexation will resume in August 2027 at the frozen rate, which permanently lowers the long-term excise path. This is responsible, targeted relief that helps around 10,000 venues nationwide and supports 160,000 workers across the brewery and hospitality sectors. It also supports Melbourne's creative life, from the musicians who rely on gig rooms to the comedians, artists and event organisers who build their careers inside these venues.

In Melbourne, hospitality is not just an industry; it is one of the defining features of our city. Walk through Carlton or Fitzroy at any hour and you feel it. Catch a tram down Bridge Road in Richmond, through the city or on Chapel Street in South Yarra and you'll see it. Hospitality gives people income, stability, community and wellbeing. It is one of our biggest employers and one of the most important cultural forces. The bills strengthen the venues that make Melbourne Melbourne.

I want to speak about something that started as a little gem and grew into a movement: Mountain Goat in Richmond. Two mates started it in the late 1990s in an old warehouse, brewing with second-hand equipment and offering local pizzas on a Wednesday night while the taps ran. Those early nights helped build Melbourne's craft beer culture. They were pioneers, experimenting, taking risks and helping shape what the industry became. In Melbourne, ordering a beer is not a simple choice; it's a commitment. You ask for the tap list and, suddenly, you're looking at 30 options, half of them brewed within walking distance. At that point, you're not choosing a drink; you're entering a relationship. That newfound relationship reflects something real.

Draught beer is essential to how hospitality operates in the city. When the excise remains stable, venues can maintain prices, keep customers coming through the door and hold onto staff with confidence. That support, delivered by these bills, sits inside a broader economic reality. Many hospitality venues have seen their margins squeezed by rising import costs. They simply cannot absorb an increase in excise twice a year without consequences. A pause on indexation means small businesses can plan across the next two financial years with accuracy. It helps protect jobs. It helps protect business viability. It helps protect local economies that rely on hospitality to stay vibrant. In Abbotsford, Bodriggy Brewing shows what that looks like. The venue was transformed from an old LP gas conversion warehouse into a community space that supports local artists and live music. This creative ecosystem depends on stable, predictable costs. When the stage lights stay on, our cultural life stays strong.

These bills also support the brewing sector, which relies heavily on keg sales to maintain cashflow. Kegs require more labour, more logistics and more handling than other forms. These bills support more jobs; keep excise stable; and help brewers plan production cycles, invest in equipment and maintain predictable relationships with pubs and venues. Stability flows through the entire supply chain—from farmers growing grain and truck drivers delivering kegs to technicians maintaining tap systems.

Another great example from my electorate is the Mill Brewery at the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood, sitting inside a venue that has been part of Melbourne's live music DNA for decades. Its beer sales support musicians, comedy nights and a thriving local arts scene. Places like this hold neighbourhood identity. They aren't just venues; they are cultural anchors.

These bills also deliver measurable financial benefits. By pausing indexation four times over two years, this government is helping save venues from automatic increases that would have compounded into real pressure. The permanent lowering of the long-term excise trajectory means businesses in future years will pay less tax than they otherwise would have. This helps small venues stay open, helps new venues survive the hardest early years and helps established venues serve the communities that rely on them. These savings matter. For many small pub operators, even a modest reduction in expected costs can be the difference between maintaining hours or cutting them, investing in local staff or delaying that decision, and continuing to operate or closing the doors. Hospitality operates on tight margins. Predictable costs support secure livelihoods.

Another venue in Melbourne is Brick Lane Brewing near the Queen Victoria Market. It shows how powerful that support can be. Brick Lane was founded by a collective that included local athletes, hospitality leaders and industry experts who wanted to create a brewery grounded in community. They employ locals, invest in brewing apprenticeships and help revitalise the Queen Victoria Market precinct. A pause in excise indexation gives them and their workers certainty as they continue to grow. In Melbourne, we do not just drink beer; we workshop it and we analyse it. I have listened in as bar goers in Richmond describe an IPA the way others would describe a novel or a long-lost lover.

To reflect more broadly on what this legislation means from the economic stability of the communities we present, in an industry like hospitality, long-term planning is not an abstract exercise. It's the difference between investing in equipment, repairs and training or deferring them indefinitely. For small-business owners, certainty translates directly into confidence and confidence translates into better decisions for workers and customers.

In Melbourne, our hospitality venues aren't just places to eat or drink; they are the rooms where the city remembers who you are. They are where people go when celebrating, when feeling lonely, when starting over or when they just need to sit somewhere and feel familiar. When a venue can plan ahead, it can keep being that anchor—the place that stays open when someone needs a moment of normal; the place a community leans on without ever even having to ask. Our venues give Melbourne somewhere to gather, to breathe and to belong. This pause also improves the resilience of the supply chain behind every keg.

Breweries depend on predictable demands from pubs. Transport providers rely on predictable routes. Grain growers rely on predictable production schedules. When excise is stable, the entire chain becomes easier to manage. Businesses can commit to local suppliers with greater certainty and create more reliable income streams for people who support the industry from behind the scenes. This doesn't just effect the great restaurants and bars of Melbourne. Every dollar spent in a hospitality venue circulates through multiple layers of the local economy. It supports small suppliers who rarely get mentioned: the local bakeries delivering bread, the florists supplying events and the cleaners keeping venues clean and welcoming. When venues remain strong, they keep people employed, they keep money moving and they keep neighbourhoods active.

Strong hospitality helps reduce isolation, supports mental wellbeing and delivers social benefits that extend well beyond the economic ledger. That is why targeted, responsible relief is so important. It is not a subsidy of luxury. It's about strengthening a sector that plays a crucial role in our social and economic life. It's about helping small businesses manage costs during volatile periods. It's about ensuring workers have stable workplaces that support their wellbeing, their income and their sense of security. In Melbourne, that matters. Our cafes, pubs and small bars are the places where ideas spark, friendships form and communities take shape. The intent is simple: strengthen businesses that give Melbourne its character, support the spaces that bring people together and make sure our hospitality scene continues to thrive as one of the great engines of the city's culture and identity.

Melbourne anchors the national hospitality landscape. Our city hosts the largest sporting events in the country, including the Australian Open and the Grand Prix. We host major festivals, conferences, exhibitions and celebrations. None of these events function without hospitality. Hospitality workers welcome international visitors, serve families, support tourism, and keep the city running long after other industries close for the night. When we support hospitality in Melbourne, we support the national visitor economy. As we strengthen Melbourne's international reputation, we strengthen Australia's place in the world. Our city is known internationally for its food cultures, its laneway bars, its world-class service and its ability to deliver major events with precision and generosity. The skills held by Melbourne's hospitality sector—creativity, professionalism, technical expertise—are part of what makes our city competitive on the global stage. When we invest in this industry, we safeguard not just local culture but Melbourne's standing as one of the world's great event and hospitality capitals.

These bills complement other government measures that support households and small businesses. They sit alongside bill relief, support for apprentices and increased rent assistance. Together, these measures help families manage cost-of-living pressures and help small businesses remain competitive. The impact of these bills extends beyond alcohol taxation. It helps protect the social fabric of our communities. Hospitality venues offer connection and belonging. They give people a place to celebrate together, to relax and to be part of something larger than themselves.

A strong hospitality sector supports mental wellbeing and strengthens neighbourhood life. I once heard a bar tender in Collingwood explain a list of seasonal beers that included a pale ale inspired by tropical sunsets, a pilsner inspired by buttery croissants and a stout inspired by existential dread. That sense of humour and creativity are part of who we are. These bills help protect the places that make that possible.

The pause in indexation is responsible. It maintains the structure of alcohol taxation. It avoids inflationary pressures. It is temporary and measured. It provides real and practical support for small businesses that employ thousands of Australians. These bills recognise the value of work, the importance of stability and the need to protect industries that bring communities together.

Melbourne is a city that takes its social spaces seriously. Our pubs, bars and breweries are where ideas start, friendships grow and community is built. Protecting them isn't nostalgia; it's an investment in the civic life that makes this city what it is. Melbourne leads the nation in hospitality. This legislation helps ensure we continue to lead not by accident but by design—through careful policy, real relief and a clear understanding of the role hospitality plays in the lives of our communities.

I am proud to support these bills. I am proud to support the workers and businesses that make Melbourne what it is: a great place to live. Melbourne does not follow hospitality trends; Melbourne sets them, and this legislation will keep us setting them. I commend the bills to the House.

Josh Burns (Macnamara, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What an honour and pleasure it is to follow the member for Melbourne, my new neighbour in this place. The Yarra River used to be the border between Melbourne and Macnamara, but now we have this wonderful amalgamation of the southern and CBD parts of Melbourne.

One thing that the member for Melbourne and I share is some of the best places for people to come and visit in our magnificent city, whether people go to the Melbourne electorate to see some of the most amazing sporting or cultural events in the country or they navigate south to the arts capital of the country, in Southbank, and right through so many other parts of my electorate.

What people know is that, if you're going to come to our neck of the woods, you're going to have so many options of amazing small and big establishments to visit and enjoy. It's something that we stand on in this place, wanting to support our amazing local businesses and establishments that make Melbourne vibrant, make it exciting and make it fun but also provide jobs to our wonderful hospitality workers.

The Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 is all about supporting our local businesses and the amazing hardworking staff who work in them. It is really hard work to be a hospitality worker. People who work in our local establishments work really hard to serve people and ensure that those businesses can function. They do so to help represent our city and ensure that people who are visiting our city, as well as the locals who want to support their local pub or bar, have a great time.

At first glance, this bill might seem a little technical, but the beer excise is something that can add up and make a financial difference to a lot of small businesses. Around the country, we have members who are privileged to represent these great local and vibrant small businesses—pubs and breweries and all those sorts of establishments—and something that we take great joy and pride in is supporting them and ensuring that they have lower costs so they can focus on running their business and not worry about the escalating costs of excises such as these.

I mentioned at the start some of the overall wonderful vibes that you can receive and experience in Macnamara, but this is not an exhaustive list. I sincerely apologise to any of the establishments that I have forgotten. Some of my favourite local establishments that represent the array of iconic venues that we have in our community are ones that locals love, that people who visit our city love and that really shine and welcome people in, whether they're from our community or from other parts of Melbourne or Australia or they come as part of our vibrant tourism industry.

The Espy in St Kilda is one of the most iconic venues, and it recently had a big renovation. I can happily report to the House that the floors are a lot less sticky, but the decor and the time that you can have at the Espy is as good as ever. The team who redid the Espy did a marvellous job, and it is absolutely heaving on a Saturday night. For anyone who wants to go to St Kilda and have a great night out or a great meal, I definitely encourage the Espy.

We've got the Railway Hotel in South Melbourne, an iconic local business that's been there for a long time. Back in my university days, I occasionally ventured down to the Windsor Castle Hotel, which was a good venue for a Wednesday night. You could go and have a good beer down at the Windsor Castle Hotel. It's tucked away behind a little nook right in the heart of Windsor.

Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does it have a vegan menu?

Josh Burns (Macnamara, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I won't take that interjection, but St Kilda East has become a real hot spot for night life. There are some great local bars as well. The local taphouse was one of the first places where you could get fantastic beers on tap that were some of the best that you could get in Melbourne, and the food there is also excellent. I definitely recommend coming down to St Kilda East as well. People unfairly think of St Kilda and near the beach, but St Kilda East is such a great part of my local electorate and has so many great establishments on Fitzroy Street, which is obviously the night-life capital of Melbourne, and so many iconic venues, such as the Prince of Wales, which also has a smaller establishment in Chronicles Bar, which I will give a shout out-to. It's a young, local team who established this and are popping up a few other venues as well. Chronicles Bar is always welcoming, and the team there work really hard. It's a great small, local business that's making it work on a street that desperately needs really good businesses and people walking up and down there, contributing to and supporting our local businesses.

In Southbank, there are so many different options around and so many amazing food options as well. An old favourite of mine is the Belgium Beer Café. The team of Macnamara once did our Christmas party there, and it was a great day. The team there really looked after us, and they are wonderful people.

All of these local stories and all of these local businesses—we want them to continue and thrive. The costs of excises to run these on-tap beers add up, and this is a core part of their product business, and we want to ensure that they are able to thrive and continue to manage all of the costs of running their businesses in a way that makes it sustainable so that they continue to be there. When you ask people, 'What are the things that you love about our local community?' it's having the places that are familiar, having places that are unique and having places that are unique parts of our local community, just like the Vineyard, which was established in 1886 on Acland Street, just down the road from my office, where we launched our campaign for the election earlier this year. The team of the Vineyard were just absolutely wonderful in welcoming over-200-people-strong Labor contingent who were gearing up for the election campaign. We had musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music perform. We had the Deputy Prime Minister come and launch the campaign. It was all hosted in this iconic venue that has been around for, as I said, over 100 years.

These are the sorts of businesses that this excise freeze will support. These are the sorts of businesses that we're here to support right around the country. In Macnamara, every single pub, every single bar, every single bowls club and every single venue do more than just pour a beer; they support jobs, they support local communities, they bring people together, they're the homes of good and fun parts of our amazing city, and they're also why people come to Melbourne to visit, to stay and to enjoy.

Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the Espy!

Josh Burns (Macnamara, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the Espy—I take interjection from the government whip. I did mention the Espy! I reported to the House earlier that, after the renovations, the floors are less sticky, but the times are just as good. We're very pleased to support these businesses, and I will continue in a moment. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.