Australian Grape & Wine says it is pleased the Federal Government has recognised the importance of the agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing sector, in helping to drive Australia’s economic recovery in this year’s federal budget.

Key announcements supporting Australia’s vital trade and tourism sectors, of which the grape and wine sector plays such an important part, will help recovery.

Tony Battaglene, chief executive of Australian Grape & Wine (AGW) said, “The funding for Tourism Australia to ramp up domestic marketing activities is critical to regional recovery”.

“This includes the additional $51 million through the Regional Tourism Recovery initiative, designed to assist tourism regions that are highly reliant on international travellers, to pivot to the domestic market by adapting their products, experiences and marketing strategies.”

Importantly, the government has not forgotten that export growth is the key driver of jobs and prosperity.

“We welcome the investment to pursue new free trade agreement opportunities around the world, and the development of our relationship with India,” Battaglene said.

“Together with the Joint Ministerial Taskforce on Simplified Trade, making trading simpler and cheaper by reducing red tape and increasing the resilience of our supply chains, this investment will help our longer term objectives of growing exports and diversifying markets.”

The Budget also provides positive news for the sector with key infrastructure spends, and measures to facilitate and grow agriculture exports that will help drive Australia out of its COVID-19 induced recession.

“Importantly a suite of reforms aimed at modernising Australia’s export systems through reducing red-tape and streamlining regulation will be introduced. Exports will provide the growth Australia needs to not only recover from COVID-19, but to provide the springboard for future growth,” concluded Battaglene.

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