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With the election now called for Labor, independent breweries around Australia are allowing themselves a moment of optimism – hoping that the reform we need for a fair economic environment for small Australian-owned breweries is within reach.

On behalf of the 675+ independent breweries across Australia, we are looking forward to working with the returned  Albanese Government to ensure meaningful and immediate action is taken to finish the work started in their previous term.

“There was a lot of work undertaken over the last 3 years which set the foundation for real reform we have been advocating for nearly a decade – structural changes to the taxation regime for alcohol and dealing with the market dominant duopoly in the beer sector. 

The Australian  consumer knows that the current situation is untenable, our independent brewing members know it, and the Prime Minister knows it. So there is no reason that the Labor Government can’t hit the ground running and take action on their commitments, promises and recommendations from their own Inquiries . 

Given they don’t have to waste time bedding down a new government, we look forward to working with the Prime Minister and his team as quickly as possible” says, Kylie Lethbridge, Independent Brewers Association (IBA) Chief Executive Officer.

Here’s a recap on all their promises, commitments and initiatives that could form an Albanese Action Plan to save Australia’s independent brewing industry:  

As part of its 2025-2026 Budget Labor Committed to:

• Freeze the bi-annual indexation of draught beer excise for two years from July 2025, and
• permanently increase in the excise remission cap to $400,000 for all eligible alcohol manufacturers from 1 July 2026. 

In addition, they committed to:

• Extending Unfair Trading Practices protections to small businesses;
• Providing $20 million to support Australian producers through a Buy Australian Campaign;
• Boosting funding to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by $38.8 million to crack down on misleading and deceptive pricing practices and unconscionable conduct in the supermarket and retail sector.

In March 2024, the House Standing Committee for Economics Better Competition, Better Prices Report noted that, “Australia has one of the most restricted beer sectors in the world, with two large foreign-owned corporations dominating beer supply, and two large companies dominating the retail beer sector”. 

Assistant Competition Minister Andrew Leigh, is also on record saying that the Better Prices, Better Competition Report “showed there is plenty of reason for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate the beer industry.”

In February 2025, the House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources released its report from their Inquiry into Food and Beverage Manufacturing in Australia, and recommended:

1. The formation of a new House Select Committee to inquire and report into all aspects of Australia’s alcohol industry.
2. Digitisation and innovation opportunities for labelling – such as the implementation of QR codes; and;
3. The Australian Government work with state/territory and local governments and industry to harmonise Australia’s container deposit schemes.

If all these promises and commitments are actioned, they would significantly improve the economic environment for small Australian-owned breweries and pave the way for a fairer marketplace that provides choice and affordability for Australian consumers.

And at the IBA, will continue to work tirelessly to hold the Government and other newly elected Members of Parliament accountable and to deliver on the range of promises made in the lead up to the 2025 election.

We are optimistic that the major reforms we have been advocating for are on the horizon. And we will continue to work tirelessly to hold the Government accountable.