2002

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Low-alcohol Liquor Subsidies (Expiry) Regulation 2002
Subordinate Law No SL2002-18

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Circulated by authority of
Ted Quinlan, MLA
Treasurer

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Low-alcohol Liquor Subsidies Act 2000 (the Act) provided for the payment of subsidies to liquor wholesalers on the sale of low-alcohol beer and wine to licensees in the ACT.
Under the Act liquor wholesalers submitted monthly returns to claim the subsidy. The subsidy was at the rate of 12% of the wholesale value for beer products with an alcohol content of 3.5% per volume or less and for low-alcohol undiluted or unadulterated wine with 6.5% alcohol per volume or less.
In March 2002, the Ministerial Council for Commonwealth-State Relations agreed to implement a National Excise Concession Scheme for Low-alcohol Beer. The scheme commences on 1 July 2002 and replaces the various State/Territory schemes. Under the national scheme, low-alcohol beer is defined as having an alcohol content of 3% per volume or less.
Liquor wholesalers will no longer need to lodge periodic rebate claims for their sales in individual jurisdictions.
The price impact on low-alcohol beer in the ACT under the new scheme is expected to be minimal. This is because either the price effect is negligible or the market share of affected products is insignificant. 

Authorised by the Treasurer