Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Second Reading

Opened the debate

Ayres argued that the bills fulfilled a budget commitment to freeze draught beer excise indexation for two years, providing approximately $100 million in support to pubs, clubs, and breweries. Ayres stated that pausing the automatic biannual increases from August 2025 to July 2027 would offer certainty to the hospitality industry, which employs hundreds of thousands of Australians. Ayres noted that the measure complemented broader tax relief for brewers, distillers, and winemakers, including an increase in tax remission caps to $400,000 per financial year from July 2026. Ayres described the legislation as a targeted benefit for local producers and consumers across the country.

Government response

Ayres moved the second reading of both bills, seeking leave to incorporate his speech into the official record. Ayres explained that the legislation incorporated previous tariff proposals into the Excise Tariff Act and Customs Tariff Act, consistent with parliamentary practice. Ayres emphasised the cultural and economic importance of local pubs and breweries, framing the excise freeze as a way to support community hubs and local jobs. Ayres indicated that full details of the measures were available in the Explanatory Memorandum.