Archives for Latest News

AHA WELCOMES SYNTHETIC LOTTERY AND KENOLAND BAN

by Andy Young The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s approval of laws which will prohibit gambling on the outcome of lotteries and Keno, by online companies such as Lottoland. The recent passing of the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Lottery Betting) Bill 2018 was supported by all sides of the House and AHA National CEO, Stephen Ferguson, praised all sides of Government for the move, which the association has been lobbying for. “Along with the Newsagents Association, Clubs and Tabcorp, the AHA has lobbied vigorously to have parasite gambling products such as Lottoland and Kenoland banned,” Ferguson told TheShout. “Kenoland
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PROPOSED ONEMUSIC LICENCE FEES A CONCERN FOR HOTELIERS

by Vanessa Cavasinni In an effort to streamline the complex maze of music licence fees being paid to both APRA AMCOS and PPCA, the two organisations are in the middle of merging into one organisation, OneMusic Australia. As part of this process, the music licencing fee structures for hotels for everything from background to live music to music played in dining areas, is in the middle of being reviewed and overhauled. Hoteliers and the AHA are taking part in consultation on the new fee structure across Australia, with AHA CEO Stephen Ferguson stating that the aim is to create a simpler
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CALLS FOR BEER TAX INCREASE LABELLED ‘TREMENDOUSLY NAIVE’

Australia’s alcohol industry has dismissed a pre-Budget submission by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (Fare) as “tremendously naïve” and “misguided, lazy and flawed”. In its proposal Fare recommended volumetric tax changes to the Wine Equalisation Tax, an industry-wide 10 per cent increase on all alcohol tax as well as an increase in the tax rate on draught beer to bring it in line with the rates applied to packaged beer. However Stephen Ferguson, CEO of the Australian Hotels Association, told TheShouthe thought the Fare proposal was disappointing and naïve. “This demonstrates Fare’s one-size fits all approach to dealing with
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AHA WELCOMES FEDERAL COURT’S SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT UMPIRE

The Australian Hotels Association has welcomed this morning’s decision by the Federal Court to reject all union grounds in its appeal of the Fair Work Commission’s recent penalty rates decision. AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson said he was pleased the full bench of the Federal Court had backed the independent umpire’s original decision on penalty rates. Mr Ferguson said; “The Full Bench of the Federal Court upheld the principle that the Fair Work Commission was alone vested with the full responsibility for assessing all relevant matters and reaching all relevant conclusions in making its determinations.” “This decision upholds the long-standing
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AHA WELCOMES NEW HEAD OF TABCORP’S WAGERING AND MEDIA BUSINESS

The Australian Hotels Association National Executive has congratulated Adam Rytenskild on his appointment as the new head of Tabcorp’s wagering and media business.   “The Association welcomes Adam Rytenskild’s appointment and looks forward to working closely with him on continuing to enhance the services our members provide their customers,” AHA National President Scott Leach said today.   “He is well known to many in our industry as a talented executive who has the interests of hotels at heart in delivering outcomes which work for venues and for Tabcorp.   “We are pleased he is taking over the helm of the
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INDUSTRY BODIES REACT TO 2017 BUDGET

By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier Liquor industry bodies have welcomed the 2017 Budget for the most part, which has revealed decisions that will mainly affect the industry positively. The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) have given their support to the 2017 Budget, which has confirmed reforms regarding the wine industry signalled by the Government last year. “Funding of these important reform measures will place the wine industry on a firm footing to continue to grow important export markets, and correct previous over-supply in the industry,” said Tony Battaglene, CEO of WFA. “The industry is in consultation with Government on implementation
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TABCORP EMERGES AS PREFERRED TATTS SUITOR

By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier This morning the Tatts board announced that they would not provide the Pacific Consortium the opportunity for due diligence. After review, the Tatts board has decided that the Pacific Consortium offer of $4.21 per share did not best the Tabcorp merger scheme, and will no longer engage with Pacific Consortium. “Accordingly Tatts’ Board continues to believe that the Proposed Tabcorp Merger is in the best interests of Tatts shareholders and unanimously recommends the Proposed Tabcorp Merger in the absence of a Superior Proposal and subject to an independent expert concluding that the Proposed Tabcorp Merger is
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A step in the right direction for a modern day hospitality industry

The Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) decision to reform Sunday and Public Holiday penalty rates is a first step  towards a modern hospitality industry, the Australian Hotels Association said. AHA and Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) led the submissions to the FWC on behalf of the hotel sector – TAA is chaired by the Hon Martin Ferguson AM, a former ACTU President and Federal Tourism Minister. Mr Ferguson said the FWC decision should be respected. “From the industry point of view we haven’t got everything we want. That is the nature of the Fair Work Commission.” “We respect their decision and we
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TAA and AHA welcome reduction in ‘backpacker tax’ and charges

27 September 2016 Australia’s peak accommodation body, Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) and the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) welcomed today’s decision by the Federal Government to reduce the tax on Working Holiday Makers (WHM) from 32.5c to 19c along with a $10 million promotional fund aimed at revitalising the sector, but said the imposition of a $5 increase in the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) was counter-productive. Under the original proposal, which was scheduled to come into force from 1 July 2016, working holiday makers would have been treated as non-residents and taxed at 32.5% from the first dollar they earned. They
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Johnnie Walker Hall of Fame – Gordon Broderick

The National AHA Awards provides an opportunity for the National Executive, the Board and in fact the entire AHA family to recognise and honour one amongst us who has provided exceptional service to their community, the AHA and/or the Australian licensed hospitality industry. The past awardees of the AHA/Diageo Johnny Walker Hall of Fame have included the leaders, heroes and champions of our great industry. Men, women and families who, whilst pursuing their own commercial objectives, have significantly contributed to the advancement of our industry and our Association. Such is the increasingly complex, demanding and somewhat controversial environment that the
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