The government’s freeze on beer excise has passed the House, but not without a touch of drama.
The freeze, which will be in place for two years once it passes the Senate, is expected to save consumers about one cent on a mid-strength pint.
The Nationals attempted to move two amendments to the bill, backed by Liberal MPs Andrew Hastie, Tony Pasin, Terry Young and Ben Small.
The amendments also received support from crossbenchers Nicolette Boele and Andrew Wilkie.
No other Liberal MPs were present in the chamber to vote with the Nationals.
Albanese defends beer excise freeze
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended Labor’s two-year beer excise freeze as a cost-of-living measure aimed at easing pressure on households.
Speaking in parliament, Albanese said the freeze would cut about one cent off a mid-strength pint and around 18 cents off a 48-litre keg.
He said the move was part of Labor’s broader response to cost-of-living pressures, arguing the government was acting rather than “just talking”.
Albanese said the freeze would benefit students, part-time workers and families, while also supporting jobs and local businesses.
The broader legislative agenda remains light, with bills to establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission and provide long service leave for coal mining workers also listed.
Labor appears content for attention to remain on the Coalition’s ongoing internal divisions as parliament resumes.
