The Albanese Labor Government needs to provide immediate assurances to Tasmanian wine producers that the ‘Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants Program’ will continue to provide much needed support to the industry.

The program was implemented by the Coalition Government and has been vital in helping Tasmanian wine producers, which rely in large part on regional cellar door operations, survive the challenges of the last few years.

The grants program enables eligible wine producers to apply for a grant payment of 29 per cent of the selling price of domestic cellar door sales.

It’s unacceptable that Labor has left Tasmanian businesses with no idea when, or if, this year’s grant round will open. Labor has left Tasmanian wineries in the dark and they owe these businesses an immediate assurance that the program is going ahead.

The Government should provide these assurances to Tasmanian businesses this week so they can have confidence in planning for the upcoming tourist season.