Spirits & Cocktails Australia has suggested that the country’s spirits industry would be well-placed to help “future proof Australian trade” overseas.
In comments made following the announcement of the 2025–26 Australian Federal Budget last week, the trade association bemoaned the lack of “structural reforms needed to enable the spirits industry to build on its current AUD15.5bn (US$9.7bn) economic contribution”. Chief executive Greg Holland also identified a “AUD1bn export opportunity” that would need “Government intervention” to realise.
“While we welcomed the Government’s positivity about the domestic economy, we cannot overlook its prognosis of a volatile and unpredictable global economy that guarantees ongoing trade disruption,” he said. “Against this landscape, growing Australian spirits exports can help the Treasurer achieve his stated ambition of ‘a more productive, dynamic and resilient economy’.”
A pre-budget submission prepared jointly with the Australian Distillers Association (ADA) recommended the implementation of a ‘Spirits Export Accelerator Strategy’ (SEAS) by the country’s authorities. Measures included in the strategy are shared access to market intelligence resources, the creation of a founders accelerator programme and a dedicated policy/legal resource “to assist industry in developing a comprehensive suite of product descriptions to protect distinctive Australian spirits”.
“More needs to be done to provide the foundations to support sustainable long-term growth and unleash the industry’s AUD1bn export potential,” said ADA chief executive Paul McLeay.
“As the Government seeks to weather a storm of trade tensions and tariffs, local distillers say it’s time to let SEAS set sail so we can stock the shelves of the world with award-winning Australian spirits.”
Earlier this year, the Government increased the excise remission cap for alcohol producers in the country from AUD350,000 per year to AUD400,000.
