Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday that his government would temporarily halt tax hikes on draught beer, amid sagging popularity for the governing Labor Party ahead of a general election due by May.
Australia is one of the world's wealthiest countries per capita and one of its highest-spending on alcohol per capita. Its centre-left government, lagging the main conservative political opposition in recent polling, levies inflation-indexed tax hikes on alcohol producers twice a year.
"The Albanese Labor Government will freeze the indexation on draught beer excise for two years, in a win for beer drinkers, brewers and hospitality businesses," Albanese said in a statement.
The measure, to start in August, would take pressure off beer prices at the nation's pubs and clubs as well as support local businesses and regional tourism, he said.
Speaking to media at a brewery in Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, Albanese said that attending pubs was "part of who we are as Australians".
"This is something that has been requested for a long time," he said, referring to the tax relief, in remarks televised by the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Alcohol is infused in the social life and identity of many Australians, but researchers expect a trend towards abstinence from alcohol to grow in coming years driven by health concerns and rising prices.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
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HopeSpringsEternal
Now that's BUYING Votes!
iron man
HES, nah the Aus Labour party is going to raise the freshwater and sewage rates for the next four years, to finance their gov. wine cellars. And raise income tax on sport revenues streamed in all the bars. As for the bottle shops?? any Aus out there to complete the give take?
HopeSpringsEternal
It'll be hard for Labour to win on raising taxes agenda, and didn't they notice Kamala Harris tried the same; let the 2017 tax cuts expire and have everyone pay more?!
K3PO
I'm in my Jaaag driving to a Toorak art exhibition - what's happening with taxes on wine and cognac Tony?
Pat McGroin
About bloody time.
I AM A DRINKER AND I KNOW MY RIGHTS.
GuruMick
Pat...you remind me of an old friend...Mike Hunt.
Ricky Kaminski13
If Albanese and his team think that this will create some sort of extra ‘beer vote’, I think they may find it does quite opposite. Low resolution pre-election 11th hour politicking that reeks of desperation p, and this gesture only makes him look even weaker than he already seems in the eyes of many Australians. Just been home too and chatting away with randoms, and suffice to say a strong leader is not exactly how he is known.
Very much cut from the same stone as the UK PM Keir Starmer. Luke warm, not particularly great at anything, just your run of the mill politician that people are getting very fed up with.
Dutton, on the other hand…