Acccolade Wines welcomes the release of the Australian Government’s Discussion Paper on reform of the Wine Equalisation Tax Wet Rebate Scheme, as an opportunity for the industry work co-operatively for a stronger future.
Accolade Wines’ General Counsel, Jeremy Stevenson, said it was essential that the WET Rebate be returned to its original intent of supporting regionally based wine businesses that were investing in the industry.
“We particularly want to see reforms which ensure that the concerns of growers, especially those in the warmer regions, are taken into account and which will help ensure that the diversity which is the strength of the Australian wine industy is sustained. Ideally savings from any reforms would be reinvested in growing demand for Australian wine and leveraging the improving terms of trade from exchange rate falls and recent free trade agreements,” Mr Stevenson said.
“We welcome moves to reinforce the integrity of the current system and support the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia’s position of removing rebates for bulk and unbranded wine, which have distorted the system and are contributing to lower prices for grapegrowers and winemakers alike.”
Mr Stevenson said the company would work with industry stakeholders to achieve a strong outcome for the wine industry as a whole.
