Domestic Wine Policy
With respect to our domestic role, we have regulatory functions in relation to two of the portfolio statutory authorities, namely the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation and the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation. We provide policy advice in relation to these bodies and manage their Commonwealth legislative requirements.
The Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation manages the research and development programs for the Australian wine industry. It does this through an industry levy scheme on the production of wine grapes and on wine. The Australian Government matches the monies expended through this scheme on a dollar for dollar basis. Further information on the rates of these levies can be obtained from the Levies Revenue Services area of the department.
The other body providing major research to the Australian wine industry is the Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture. Set up under an Australian government scheme to play a key role in boosting the competitiveness of all the major sectors of Australian industry, viticulture was chosen in 1992 for a seven-year period of research, this was extended in 1999 for a further seven years.
The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation is the promotional and regulatory body for the Australian wine industry. This corporation is supported by a marketing levy on the production of wine. It also has the Australian Wine Export Council operating under its general control. This committee deals with the promotion of wine at the international level as well as providing wine export approval arrangements for Australian wine exporters.
There are also a number of Laws and Regulations in Australia that deal with the making, labelling, selling and exporting of wine.