News

Digital Resources There are many webinar’s currently available to assist businesses through the recent bushfire and COVID-19 crisis’.  Wine Australia and the AWRI both have resources designed specifically for grape and wine businesses.   Wine Australia Wine Australia free business support webinars Research has shown that the right marketing strategy during a crisis can actually …

Responsible drinking It has never been more important for the sector to ensure its advertising and marketing are responsible. The anti-alcohol lobby is using the COVID-19 crisis to attack the wine industry. Anti-alcohol advocacy group, the Foundation of Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), are claiming one in five Australians have purchased more alcohol than usual …

New $500 million Government loan package for exporters Australian exporters impacted by the COVID-19 crisis will now have access to business-saving loans between $250,000 and $50 million under a new $500 million capital facility, to be administered by Export Finance Australia. The new COVID-19 Export Capital Facility will target loans to established and previously profitable …

Temporary relief for financially distressed businesses The Australian Government is temporarily increasing the threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company, and the time companies have to respond to statutory demands they receive. The package also includes temporary relief for directors from any personal liability for trading while insolvent, and provides …

By Damien Griffante, Policy Manager – Market Access It is commonly understood that when consumers head to their local wine stores, they will often have a brand in mind they are looking to purchase. This is because they know their favourite wine and they trust its reputation for quality, safety and value, or they may …

Minister Littleproud extends Agriculture Visas The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture announced the extension of visas for critical agricultural workers, in response to calls from industry. Key details of this announcement are: Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme workers can extend their stay for up to 12 months to work for approved …

Essential Industry We have spent a lot of time this week trying to lock the grape and wine sector in as an Essential Industry that needs to keep running during the COVID-19 crisis. We have had good support at the Federal level, with the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, supporting this …

As COVID-19 shuts down industries across the country, Australia’s grape and wine sector is very fortunate to be recognised as an essential industry by the Australian Government. This recognition allows businesses to assemble the people they need to harvest, transport and crush the grapes that will make vintage 2020. However, without clear and well-implemented protocols …

Australian Government Today the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Simon Birmingham, announced the Federal Government will inject an extra $49.8 million into the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program in the 2019-20 financial year, allowing exporters and tourism businesses to receive additional reimbursements for costs incurred in marketing their products and services around the world. Minister …

As the COVID-19 crisis escalates, the business landscape continues to change on a daily basis, with new survival measures for businesses, and further restrictions to the sale of alcohol, being announced overnight. Australian Grape & Wine continues to reaffirm to the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud, that the Australian wine industry …