Highlands brewers and distillers have received a massive boost with up to $350,000 in tax cuts announced in the Federal Budget on Tuesday night.
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Treasurer Josh Frydenberg revealed on Tuesday night the government would spend a total of $285 million on tax relief for small brewers and distillers in a move to encourage local industry.
It's effects are being felt immediately locally with Joadja Distillery Director Valero Jimenez revealing he was looking to expand his workforce as a direct result.
"Our main thing is jobs," Jimenez told the Southern Highlands News.
"I can tell you categorically not only are we keeping our people, because I was thinking of downsizing, I'm actually looking at employing people and bringing at least one or two more people on board just because of that tax change."
Jimenez said the assistance would not only mean direct savings for customers but also help attract people to visit the Joadja heritage listed site.
"We're in the middle of nowhere so we want to draw people to us so it's a bit of a double whammy," he said.
"We're not only getting relief for the actual product we produce but also of course drawing people to look at the heritage sites and grab something to eat.
"A lot of craft distillers are in cities but the idea behind the craft, particularly us in Joadja, is we're a true paddock to bottle distillery so we produce our own barley, we have our own spring on site.
"So that's our own point of difference and trying to get people out here has been difficult, not only because of Covid but generally and now we're hoping that by being able to pass some of those tax breaks on we're going to be able to generate [income and jobs]."
Jimenez said he hoped distillers and craft brewers around Australia would now be free to focus on presenting their product in a different light to traditional alcohol.
"It's a game-changer for the whole industry," he said.
"At the end of the day it's not about trying to get people to drink alcohol at all. It's about spreading the word about flavour and craft.
"We really don't want to be seen to be trying to push alcohol at all, it's really pushing the craft, creating jobs in an industry that's going worldwide. When we were licensed seven years ago there were a few dozen distilleries in the whole country, now we're nudging over 400."
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