For some time now, microbreweries have been lobbying the federal government to amend the excise rebate scheme. Currently a microbrewery needs to produce less than 30,000L a year (around 770 long necks a week) to be able to claim the $10,000 excise rebate.
After June 30th, 2 things will change, firstly the production cap has been removed allowing microbreweries to grow without losing the rebate. Secondly the rebate has been increased to $30,000. This means that they can now claim a rebate of 60% of the excise paid up to a maximum of $30,000.
What does this mean for us? It means that we will see most microbreweries increasing their production and hopefully their distribution range further than just their local area.
We need to focus now on breaking the Tap Lockout that is happening at the moment. The big 2 (Sab - Miller and Lion Nathan), lock in pubs and clubs to having only their beers on tap, and putting clauses in the contracts making it a violation of that contract to have other beers on tap. Sounds to me like restraint of trade and gives a very limited choice to the drinkers.
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