CHANGES to the wine equalisation tax (WET) could have grave consequences for many of Orange's wine producers.
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Along with the Wine Federation of Australia, Orange producers want the government to retain the $500,000 WET rebate cap and not reduce it to $290,000 and also bring forward from July 2019 to July 2017 changes to exclude bulk and unbranded wine from the rebate.
Jim Swift of Printhie Wines fears wine makers could buckle under the burden of the Federal government's taxation plan.
"This plan not only has the potential to impact heavily on our vignerons, there will be a flow-on effect through the community because Orange is promoted as a wine destination," Mr Swift said.
He said the changes announced by the government in May to reduce the cap on earnings is a flawed process which will benefit major industry players.
"I just don't think the government has received the right information about the impact on regional producers Australia-wide before they went ahead with these changes," said fellow producer Ben Crossing of Angullong Vineyard.
Mr Swift said another disparity of concern is under current legislation New Zealand producers are allowed to claim a rebate from Australia for wine which is subsequently exported to Australia.
Producers told the Central Western Daily deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has had some preliminary discussions with wine producers and has told them there will be no changes to the WET tax until after the election next month.
"But we need government to sit down with us now, otherwise we are handing our industry over to corporate Australia," Mr Swift said.
Mr Shaw said the Labor party has indicated its interest in a fairer deal for producers, with strong support also from South Australian senator Nick Xenophon.
"Unfortunately I have tried to organise a meeting with Mr Gee (The Nationals) to explain the full implications of the impact of these changes for producers in our area, but haven't heard back," Mr Swift said.
"The same thing has happened with Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash as we haven't had any success in securing a meeting with her.”