Winemakers slam 'big hairy tax' amid comeback, win changes

New South Wales winemakers say a plan to include wine bottles in the state's Return and Earn scheme is causing them grief and anguish as they face to a new "big and hairy tax" on their businesses.
Key Points: The NSW government plans to include bottles of wine in the return and earn scheme. The wine industry says this will result in an additional cost to producers. NSW Environment Minister says government welcomes consultation with industry. the government has proposed to include more beverage containers between 150mL and 3 liters in the scheme, including glass wine and spirits bottles.
The Mudgee Winemaker , David Lowe, strongly criticized the move and said it would burden producers who have been forced to pay additional fees to cover the cost of the program.
Mr. Lowe criticized the government for not consulting industry sooner, and said it was unclear whether the change would reduce the amount of glass going to landfill.
< p class="_1g_Rg ">"All they want is to get our industry to do less, to make less money, to produce less wine, so that we use less glass bottles," he said. declared.
Mr. Lowe said it was a blow after several tough years for the state's grape growers.
"But that's agriculture," Lowe said. .

"We're going with it, what we don't want is big hairy taxes."
He said that c was an unnecessary expense for producers when the industry was already trying to be more proactive about recycling and waste management.
"The wine industry, like the most industries now have woken up and we care about recycling.
"We don't like to see bottles go to landfill," he said.
Government rejects cost concerns
NSW Wine, the state's wine industry association, says the change would cost the industry $30 million per year.
Environment Minister James Griffin said he did not believe the figure was correct but would welcome further consultation with the industry.
He said the existing return and earning system followed the additional costs to consumers when beverage companies passed on the cost of participation.
James Griffin questioned the industry's claim that the program would cost them $30 million a year. (ABC News: Brigid Glanville) 10 cents back.
Glass containers currently included in the program cost consumers approximately 12.5 cents each.
"The cost tax that exists is something that has been understood and worked on for over five years," Griffin said.
"We We're really excited to welcome new bottles, spirit containers and wine bottles to the program."

Agrotech Oct 20, 2022 0 89 Add to Reading List

Winemakers slam 'big hairy tax' amid comeback, win changes

New South Wales winemakers say a plan to include wine bottles in the state's Return and Earn scheme is causing them grief and anguish as they face to a new "big and hairy tax" on their businesses.

Key Points: The NSW government plans to include bottles of wine in the return and earn scheme. The wine industry says this will result in an additional cost to producers. NSW Environment Minister says government welcomes consultation with industry. the government has proposed to include more beverage containers between 150mL and 3 liters in the scheme, including glass wine and spirits bottles.

The Mudgee Winemaker , David Lowe, strongly criticized the move and said it would burden producers who have been forced to pay additional fees to cover the cost of the program.

Mr. Lowe criticized the government for not consulting industry sooner, and said it was unclear whether the change would reduce the amount of glass going to landfill.

< p class="_1g_Rg ">"All they want is to get our industry to do less, to make less money, to produce less wine, so that we use less glass bottles," he said. declared.

Mr. Lowe said it was a blow after several tough years for the state's grape growers.

"But that's agriculture," Lowe said. .

"We're going with it, what we don't want is big hairy taxes."

He said that c was an unnecessary expense for producers when the industry was already trying to be more proactive about recycling and waste management.

"The wine industry, like the most industries now have woken up and we care about recycling.

"We don't like to see bottles go to landfill," he said.

Government rejects cost concerns

NSW Wine, the state's wine industry association, says the change would cost the industry $30 million per year.

Environment Minister James Griffin said he did not believe the figure was correct but would welcome further consultation with the industry.

He said the existing return and earning system followed the additional costs to consumers when beverage companies passed on the cost of participation.