F O L I O
2024 PRESIDENT’S LUNCH SPEECH From the President DAVID BASHEER
AHA | SA PRESIDENT, DAVID BASHEER, GAVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH TO HUNDREDS OF THE STATE’S MOST INFLUENTIAL FIGURES, ALL OF WHOM HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE FORTUNES OF THE HOTEL INDUSTRY. IT IS INCLUDED IN ITS ENTIRETY SO THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE MESSAGES BEING DELIVERED TO STATE AND FEDERAL POLITICIANS AND POLICY MAKERS. For more than 150 years, the AHA has been advocating for an industry that is the heartbeat of any community. Whether it be through economic storms, social issues – or whenever our political friends temporarily lose their radar – the AHA has and always will, energise friends and engage critics to defend our members. Members who are remarkable achievers and entrepreneurs working alongside our 27,635 employees to create the best pubs in Australia.
NATIONAL AWARDS This was emphatically demonstrated at the National Hotel Awards. It was a night of triumph for South Australia, as we scooped no-less than 11 awards, highlighted by the Arkaba and McLaren Vale Hotels winning best Metropolitan and best Regional Hotels in Australia respectively.
No need for the Prime Minister or Treasurer to stand up and publicly justify the tax increase twice a year, every year. No requirement to skilfully navigate their tax hike though the Upper House. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher dismissively says this cash cow ‘is something that just happens”. What a glib comment.
Despite having the country's finest pubs, formidable challenges remain.
Does the rate of the luxury car tax increase twice a year?
ALCOHOL EXCISE
Yet, having a few frothies in a family run hotel has become a luxury.
With 6,670 pubs around the country serving 11 million voters, our customers are searching for a friend in Canberra - one they can vote for at the Federal election. Australia now has the third highest rate of alcohol tax in the world. Pub goers fear with the current twice yearly excise indexation rises – actually bugger those polite words “excise” and “indexation” - with the twice yearly tax hikes, we will quickly move from the third highest alcohol taxing country in the world into the gold medal position. This is such a lazy tax.
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Too many in Canberra fail to appreciate Aussie Pubs are the second lounge room for so many communities. This “something that just happens” tax is also an insidious tax on socialising – and mental health. We all understand the devastating impact of loneliness - and the positivity of mates talking to mates.. For many, this means spending time at their local pub … but today, only if they can afford it. Allow me to present an uncomfortable truth. Back to Contents