Backers of beer tax campaign ply politicians with booze and hospitality
The (un)successful campaign to cut the beer tax was funded by the Australian Hotels Association, the Australian Brewers Association, and Clubs Australia. Open Politics details the booze and hospitality these organisations and their members have dished out to MPs and senators since the last election.(Despite Newscorp media confidently predicting a budget cut, the night turned into a fizzer for the industry. All that lobbying and largesse wasted.)
Sean Johnson15 March 2022
As reported by Sky News yesterday, the Federal government is planning to cut the tax on beer served in pubs and clubs, purportedly to help support an industry hit hard by COVID.
However the expected changes probably have more to do with a lobbying campaign conducted by Australian Hotels Association (AHA), the Australian Brewers Association (ABA), and Clubs Australia, with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting last week that over 20 government MPs and senators have been pressing the Treasurer for the tax cut.
What's not so well known is that the AHA, the Australian Brewers Association, Clubs Australia and their member organisations (Lion Co and Carlton & United are members of the ABA, and ClubsNSW and ClubsACT of Clubs Australia) have provided free beer and hospitality to at least 26 politicians over the course of the parliamentary term, as detailed below. We say 'at least' because there is no requirement for MPs and senators to disclose gifts and hospitality under $300.
| Name | Date | Interest | Person | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Albanese | 26/11/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Gift hamper from ClubsACT |
| Kevin Andrews | 06/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | I attended the annual Australian Hotels Association (AHA) Board meeting in Melbourne |
| Chris Bowen | 04/02/2022 | 11. Gifts | Self | Six pack of Little Creatures Pale Ale from Lion Brewing |
| Andrew Bragg | 18/10/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | In kind donation from Lion Co in support of office opening on 25 September 2019. |
| Andrew Bragg | 18/10/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | In kind donation from the Australian Hotels Association - NSW Branch in support of office opening on 25 September 2019. |
| Andrew Bragg | 03/12/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Two tickets and hospitality as a guest of Lion Co at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday 2 November. |
| Andrew Bragg | 14/08/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality from the Australian Hotels Association - NSW Branch on 7 August 2020 |
| Jim Chalmers | 29/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | State of Origin Game 1 Match with Lion (x1 ticket in corporate box) on 05 June 2019 in Brisbane |
| Jim Chalmers | 19/09/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Press Gallery Mid-Winter Ball tickets courtesy of LION (x2) (Wednesday 18 September 2019) |
| Jim Chalmers | 23/03/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 3 x Queensland State of Origin replica training jerseys, one signed by team. Received from Lion Nathan. |
| Anthony Chisholm | 17/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality State of Origin Game 1, Suncorp Stadium, 5 June 2019, guest of Lion Nathan |
| Anthony Chisholm | 27/11/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket and hospitality State of Origin Game 3 on 18 November 2020 as guest of Lion |
| Raff Ciccone | 29/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality to the Furphy Marquee, Melbourne Cup, on 5 November 2019 guest of Lion Beer Australia. |
| Jason Clare | 01/04/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 1 x Gift box from Lion Australia - valued at $30 received on 18th March 2021 |
| Jason Clare | 10/12/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 1 x gift box from Clubs NSW - received on 24 November 2021 - valued at $100 |
| Jason Clare | 17/01/2022 | 11. Gifts | Self | 1 x Case of Beer from Lion Corporation – value at $50 – received on 16 December 2021 |
| Trevor Evans | 21/12/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Carton of Little Creatures Pacific Ale from Lion Co |
| Don Farrell | 08/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality for two courtesy of Tabcorp and Lion at Melbourne Cup, Melbourne on 5 November 2019 |
| Joel Fitzgibbon | 25/11/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | A bottle of Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 from ClubsNSW |
| Paul Fletcher | 29/01/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | 6-pack of beer from Carlton & United Breweries |
| Andrew Gee | 25/01/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Lion – two cases of beer |
| Steve Irons | 28/09/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 2 Cartons of Furphy beer delivered to EO by Lion Beer |
| Matt Keogh | 10/01/2022 | 11. Gifts | Self | Christmas card and gift from Lion, 12 cans of limited edition beer. Value unknown. |
| Michelle Landry | 08/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket from the Australian Hotel Association for the AHA National Board Luncheon |
| James McGrath | 11/12/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | Alcohol from Queensland Hotels Association: 4 Cartons Beer - approximately $200; 2 Cartons x 6 Rose; 1 Carton x 6 Verdelho; 1 Carton x 6 Prosecco; 1 Carton x 6 Sparkling Wine - approximately $621.60 TOTAL: $821.60 |
| James McGrath | 16/12/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 6 bottles of Pale Ale from Lion Breweries |
| Bridget McKenzie | 18/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x Tickets Corporate Hospitality and tickets to Melbourne Cup by Lion Beer |
| Bridget McKenzie | 23/12/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Box of Little Creatures Pacific Ale from The Lion Group |
| James Paterson | 29/01/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Two tickets and hospitality, Australian Open Tennis, 23 January 2020, courtesy Carlton and United Breweries |
| Michelle Rowland | 29/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets and hospitality from Lion Co for self and guest (not spouse) to State of Origin NRL on Wednesday 5 June 2019 in Brisbane. |
| Michelle Rowland | 31/08/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets and hospitality for self and seven (7) others from Lion to Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm NRL match on Thursday 20 August 2020 |
| Michelle Rowland | 29/03/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket and hospitality from Lion Co to the Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks NRL game on Saturday 27 March 2021 at BankWest stadium. |
| Michelle Rowland | 31/08/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Ticket and hospitality from Lion to Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm NRL match on Thursday 20 August 2020 |
| Michelle Rowland | 29/03/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Ticket and hospitality from Lion Co to the Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks NRL game on Saturday 27 March 2021 at BankWest stadium. |
| Tony Smith | 13/10/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Lunch and Tickets to the 2019 AFL Grand Final as guest of the Carlton and United Breweries |
| Matt Thistlethwaite | 29/11/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Christmas Hamper (from Clubs NSW) |
| David Van | 06/12/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality - Flemington Racecourse Melbourne Cup Carnival Birdcage courtesy of Lion 1 ticket |
| Murray Watt | 03/02/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket to the attendance of the 2020 State of Origin in Brisbane on 18 November 2020. Sponsored by Lion. Ticket value - $1480 incl GST |
| Anika Wells | 18/05/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | Refreshments from Lion Co for First Speech function |
| Anika Wells | 18/05/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | State of Origin tickets for Round 1 at Suncorp Stadium from Lion Co |
| Anika Wells | 11/01/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality and 1x ticket to State of Origin Game 3 on 18 November 2020 as guest of Lion. |
| Tim Wilson | 26/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x guest tickets for Lion Nathan Birdcage Enclosure, Derby Day, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
| Tim Wilson | 26/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x guest tickets for Lion Nathan Birdcage Enclosure, Melbourne Cup Day, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
| Tim Wilson | 03/03/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | Red, white and sparkling wine from the Australian Hotels Association. |
| Tim Wilson | 03/03/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | Beer from the Australian Brewers Association. |
| Tim Wilson | 01/10/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 2 cases of Furphy Beer from Lion Nathan to celebrate the Dees smashing the Dogs 140 - 66, acknowledging one needed a beer in the second quarter for entirely different reasons to the end of the third ... |
