A Win for SMEs and Workers

Are we on the verge of a major victory for small business, their workers and our industry? It certainly seems so.

The AHA|SA and our National Body welcomes the Federal Coalition’s policy proposal to introduce a capped tax deduction - for small business only – to the tune of $20,000 for business-related meal and entertainment expenses.

This Fringe Benefit Tax relief for small business and their workers is something that the AHA has spent years advocating for in Canberra.

At a time when our small and family businesses have been thrown numerous cost challenges, this policy is a win for common sense and equity.

The big end of town are able to utilise their fully-catered, inhouse private boardrooms and avoid the exposure to the tax. But family-owned business and their workers don’t have the privilege of rewarding their staff or entertaining clients at their local at the end of the week as a reward without the business and worker being hit with additional taxes.

It is a commonsense controlled policy devoid of the excesses of the 1980’s because alcohol is excluded. That means highly paid CEOs won’t get a deduction on their bottle of Grange. But a plumber can get a deduction for thanking his apprentice for a job well done with a Parmy.

It is a reminder that much of the work the AHA performs does not play out publicly. In this case, our national office deserves enormous credit for the quality, quantity, and consistency of the advocacy and the ‘never give up approach’ they executed that has seen the Coalition adopt, as policy, our proposal.

We encourage and welcome all parties to support these changes that is a desperately needed win for small business.

TAX

We continue to prosecute our case for excise relief at every opportunity.

We have many friends in Canberra on this issue, with the National Party announcing a 40% reduction on excise on alcohol served from a keg inside a pub.

Our target is now to get the two major parties to offer the same concession.

My plea to all our members and their staff is to assist us with our efforts.

We all know that in the lead up to an election, politicians and candidates love visiting pubs so they can be seen mixing with the locals and coming across as the sort of person you would vote for.

They need to hear our message loud and clear. When it comes to excise, tell them “enough is enough”!

These are the messages we want the political class to hear:

• Australia now has the 3rd highest rate of alcohol tax in the world.

• There have been 83 rises since 1983. It has gone up again in February and will continue to rise indefinitely. Who knows what unaffordable price a pint of beer will rise to in a few year’s time?

• A reduction on excise would be a massive cost of living relief for our 11 million voting customers.

• We are asking for relief in on premise only. Our proposed 40% cut in on premise excise represents a mere 2% of the Federal Government’s excise receipts.

• Providing relied to on premise iscritical, as on premise is where the jobs are.On premise drinking is carried out in a controlled and regulated environment with trained and licensed staff and is the safest form of drinking

• On premise drinking promotes mates are talking to mates and a critical remedy to the devastating impact of loneliness and mental health.

Political aspirants hearing our message at the coalface and carrying it back to Canberra is a powerful vehicle in assisting all of us achieve our goals.

Please watch our membership profiles in this edition, who explain how the excise is simply economic madness.

WORKFORCE

Finaly, having an adequate labour force remains critical to our members being able to operate viable businesses.

Hospitality venues always want to hire Australians first.

But there just aren’t enough Australians available to do the job - especially in many regional areas.

So, hotels have to rely heavily on overseas workers to keep pub kitchens open and accommodation beds available.

To maximise business productivity and satisfy customer demand, we need to ensure hospitality venues are able to open the doors, prepare meals and service customers seven days a week.

That relies on hospitality having sufficient skilled overseas workers such as chefs, cooks and hotel managers to fill the gaps.

Neither side of Government appear willing to embrace these views, and this remains a key advocacy issue for us in the lead up to the upcoming Federal election.

This year, we will be looking at promotional opportunities with industry trainers in an effort to raise the profile of our standout cooks and bar staff who play an incredibly vital role in South Australia's vibrancy.

THANK YOU

Congratulations to Dr Tim Cooper on his retirement. He has always had the best interests of the SA public at heart and his personal energy went into every keg.

His legacy ensures the Coopers brand remains strong in our venues.

The industry wishes Tim and Barb every success and thanks them for their friendship over many years.

Be sure to read Dr Tim's industry reflection in this edition of Hotel SA.