Australian Government supports wine sector after bushfires

The Australian grape and wine sector has welcomed the Australian Government’s initiatives in dealing with the bushfire crisis and its impacts on agriculture.

Minister for Agriculture Bridget McKenzie has met with agriculture industry leaders to discuss the impact of the recent bushfires and the road to recovery for many businesses and communities that have been affected. McKenzie was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Nationals Michael McCormack, and Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, National Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud, at the roundtable meeting, with more than 20 agriculture sectors represented.

“This roundtable was a great opportunity to bring affected agriculture industries together to enable government to understand the extent of the issue and the responses we can bring. The immediate government relief work has been fantastic. The grape and wine sector is well placed to work with government to ensure both immediate support for the sector and the development of strategies to build resilience and to minimise damage from future bushfires events,” said Tony Battaglene, Chief Executive of Australian Grape & Wine.

Future strategic approaches will consider providing direct support for growers and wineries, technical support and research, support for regions to bring tourists into and informational coordination of standard setting. A number of individual growers and winemakers have been affected by the recent bushfires and will need support over the course of the recovery phase, which could take three to five years.

“We must make sure that in the future we are better prepared to manage significant events and build our resilience. This includes supporting the volunteer firefighters and relief agencies who have done such magnificent work. I would also personally thank Minister McKenzie and the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, who have both spent time on the ground with Australian Grape & Wine and a number of affected wine businesses to witness first-hand the devastation, and to work with us on the government response,” said Battaglene.

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