$18 million free kick for Kiwi wine beggars belief, say Australian producers

Letting New Zealand wine producers access $18 million in tax rebates funded by Australian taxpayers while they compete against local rivals for shelf space and sales “beggars belief”, say local winemakers. Winemakers from Australia’s wine regions are fuming that an overhaul of a Wine Equalisation Tax rebate by the Turnbull Government has left intact a subsidy paid to Kiwi winemakers who are vying for the same markets as Australian producers.