Tax increase for local distillers

Local distillers are set to be slugged with a tax hike from next week.

For many years a number of distilleries have operated in the Riverland, with Renmark’s St Agnes SA’s longest running distillery in the state.

The increase of the excise is attached to CPI inflation figures, with the tax structure first used in the 1980’s.

Australian Distillers Association chief executive Paul McLeay said “These twice yearly spirits tax increases are holding back Australia’s 700 distilleries, many of them small businesses.

“There is enormous potential for Australian distillers to create jobs, exports, and attract foreign investment to become an industry to rival Australia’s proud wine industry, but we need the right policy settings” he said.