$109 million wine industry support package

The Malinauskas Government has developed a comprehensive wine industry package to support transition, expand market demand, promote new regional investment, and position the state’s wine sector for sustainable long-term growth.

It comes as the state’s iconic $2.4 billion wine industry – which produces 80% of Australia’s premium wine and supports more than 90,000 jobs – grapples with global oversupply, declining grape prices, shifting consumer demands and ongoing market pressures.

The $109 million South Australia Wine Industry Transition and Growth Package features a suite of measures including government-backed loans, business support, market promotion and the appointment of a Wine Industry Coordinator.

The package builds upon existing State and Commonwealth Government support, and includes:

• Government-backed loans: A $100 million loan scheme will be established to help growers wanting to transition unviable vineyards to more sustainable and higher-value land uses. Eligible growers will be able to access loans of up to $500,000, with no principal or interest repayments required for the first 2 years of the loan.
• Export and market growth: $5 million to extend and expand the Global Wine Growth Program for a further 2 years to drive international demand for South Australian wine. In addition, a targeted $675,000 advertising campaign will showcase South Australia’s premium food and wine, boosting tourism opportunities.
• Waste and inventory support: $2 million to enable government, council and industry collaboration on a waste solution for copper chrome arsenate (CCA) treated timber posts, including seeking to establish regional aggregation and storage sites.
• Vineyard transition support: $1 million over 2 years to provide growers with independent diversification planning advice to achieve sustainable transition outcomes.
• Surplus wine inventories: $500,000 over 2 years for assessment and development of industry-led solutions to address surplus wine inventories.
• Industry coordination: A new Wine Industry Coordinator will identify and address barriers to an orderly transition and strengthen engagement between industry, government and regional stakeholders.
• Planning changes: The Riverland Economic Recovery Joint Amendment will support winegrowers in the Riverland by facilitating housing and employment land, generating additional land use opportunities.

The Wine Industry Transition and Growth Package was developed through consultation with key wine industry stakeholders following a wine industry forum convened by the Premier last month.

Together, the initiatives will help safeguard the sector’s long-term competitiveness while supporting regional economic resilience.