Barista in the pub pouring beer drink into glass for the customer.
Share and Follow

Australians are set to enjoy cheaper beer as legislation to freeze biannual tax hike was introduced to parliament today.

Under the current decades-old system, an indexation is applied to the beer excise in February and August each year in line with inflation.

But the continued increases have brought up the prices of a schooner or pint to about $15, prompting calls from brewers, bars and patrons to put a pause to the controversial indexation.

Barista in the pub pouring beer drink into glass for the customer.
Australians are set to enjoy cheaper beer as legislation to freeze biannual tax hike was introduced to parliament. (iStock)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese campaigned for this year’s federal election on the promise to freeze the indexation on the excise for two years starting from August.

He also said he would increase the excise remission cap to $400,000 for manufacturers and increase the wine equalisation tax producer rebate cap to $400,000 from July 1 next year.

At the time, he said this was a “common sense measure” that was a win for drinkers, pubs and brewers.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers touted the freeze as a “modest change” that would take the pressure off the industry and Australians. 

The changes come as Australia’s monthly spend on wine and beer jumped this year compared to 2024, according to June data by CanstarBlue.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with patrons during a visit to the Gage Roads Freo Brewery
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a visit to the Gage Roads Freo Brewery ahead of the federal election. (Alex Ellinghausen)

The monthly spend for beer rose by 30 per cent from $76 to $99 while wine rose by 17 per cent from $66 to $77. 

Meanwhile, the average price of beer increased by 4.5 per cent in the 12 months to March.

The rising costs have also taken a toll on the industry, which saw dozens of breweries and pubs shut down shop from last year. 

Industry bodies, which have long been campaigning for a freeze, welcomed the government following through on its election promise. 

Australian Hotels Association National President David Canny said the legislation prevented beer from becoming a “luxury item”.

“It’s a win for common-sense in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis,” he said.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
CCTV footage of an inmate at Cessnock prison attacking multiple police officers.

Shocking Jail Assault Triggers Unprecedented Prison Officer Walkout

An urgent legal session is currently underway, aiming to compel prison officers…
'Every four hours': Shock stat reveals Australia's illegal gun crisis

Stunning Statistic Unveils the Reality of Australia’s Illegal Gun Crisis: An Incident Every Four Hours

More than 2000 guns are stolen every year in Australia, averaging out…
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea.

Trump Reduces Tariffs Following Productive Talks with China

US President Donald Trump has described his face-to-face with Chinese leader Xi…

Australia Braces for Silver Tsunami: What a $136,000 Superannuation Gap Means for Your Future

Australians could miss out on more than $130,000 in retirement because of…

Shocking Sudan Hospital Massacre Sparks Outrage: Rights Groups Demand Justice Amid Mass Exodus

Sudan’s paramilitary forces killed hundreds of people, including patients in a hospital,…
Sensitive parliamentary documents handed to private company against risk advice

Parliamentary Security Breach: Sensitive Documents Leaked to Private Firm Despite Risk Warnings

Exclusive: Over 100,000 confidential parliamentary emails and documents were transferred to a…

Australia’s Top Healthcare Expenditures: Which Diseases Receive the Most Funding?

Australia’s real spending on health has increased slightly after a one-year plateau,…
Authorities are investigating a shocking video of a person standing on top of a dead humpback whale south of Sydney.

Bizarre Footage of Individual Standing on Dead Whale Sparks Outrage South of Sydney

A juvenile whale, merely two years old, was discovered bobbing belly-up near…