With some of the nation’s best wineries being located in parts of the Goulburn Valley, and many dedicated to the export market, the following news may cause a headache.
Wine Australia’s latest export report has revealed that Australian wine exports have declined 10 per cent in value to $1.87 billion and one per cent in volume to 621 million litres in the year ended June, 2023.
Wine Australia said the decline in value was largely due to a reduction in exports to the United States.
Exports to the United Kingdom also declined.
Also in decline is wine consumption globally, with it falling three per cent in volume in 2022.
WorkCover premiums a right pain
Increases in WorkCover premiums by the Andrews Government have prompted a swift attack from the state Opposition, with Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad describing them as a “kick in the guts” for businesses.
The Nationals MP said the government’s claimed average increase of 42 per cent to WorkCover premiums, effective from July 1, was compulsory if a business employed one or more workers and expected to pay more than $7500 in remuneration in a financial year.
During a visit to Shepparton on Thursday, July 27, Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell said he had received reports of businesses seeing increases of 90 and 100 per cent in their WorkCover premiums.
Regional study hubs
The Regional Australia Institute has praised the Federal Government’s $66.9 million commitment to establish 20 further university study hubs across regional Australia.
RAI chief executive Liz Ritchie said the government’s Universities Accord interim report was due acknowledgement of the barriers regional and remote Australians faced in undertaking tertiary study.
“I grew up in Deniliquin in southern NSW and when I finished school, I didn’t have the option to undertake study in my field of choice in my home town,” she said.
“If we can give more country kids a choice about how they undertake tertiary education, we will empower our regional communities to retain the generations of the future.”
Ms Ritchie said in 2021, just 57 per cent of regional Australians aged between 15 and 74 had a post-school qualification. The RAI expected that figure to rise to 65 per cent by 2032, the figure for capital cities.