Isn't that just the normal indexation of excise? Where's the 2 billion number come from, sounds a bit excessive when beer sales are at their lowest point in 60 years? Every time this happens it's actually a lot less than that in the actual excise, something around the 5-10c mark, but of course the cost of beer in the pub goes up just cos they have an excuse
CPI that compounds each year. Excerpt from news.com.au today
Beer drinkers won't escape the Budget pain, contributing an estimated $2.183 billion to Federal Government coffers over the next 12 months.
The $75 million tax revenue rise comes despite a fall in the number of Aussies enjoying a pot to the lowest level in 65 years.
Canberra is looking to steadily increase its take from the amber fluid by another $200 million by 2015.
Australian Hotels Association chief executive Brian Kearney said Australians who enjoy an ale were once again copping it in the hip pocket.
"The continuing tax grab by government directed towards drinkers whom Canberra sees as basically just a soft target is disappointing from our point of view," he said.
Mr Kearney said the bucket of money flowing from drinkers in the form of taxes was particularly disappointing, given great strides have been made in responsible alcohol consumption and the impact on drinkers' health.
"The days when Australia was top of the international drinking table are long gone," he said.
Mr Kearney was particularly critical of the twice yearly automatic tax rises applied to alcohol.
"The creeping CPI-based tax increases year by year results in the price of a pot over the bar increasing by 20c per annum," Mr Kearney said.
Read more:
http://www.news.com.au/money/federal-budge...2#ixzz1uMnTeHGO
