PRESIDENT UPDATE
The recent announcement that Lion is closing the James Boag’s Brewery in Launceston should concern every Tasmanian who cares about local jobs, local identity and the future of our hospitality and tourism industry. The immediate concern must be for the 42 workers and their families impacted by the closure. These are skilled people who have contributed so much to one of Tasmania’s most recognisable brands. The hospitality industry thanks you for all your work over the years. For 145 years, Boag’s has been part of the fabric of Northern Tasmania. It is not just a beer brand. It is part of Launceston’s story, part of our visitor economy and part of the state’s hospitality identity.
operators are being squeezed from every direction.
The latest occupancy figures also show the state cannot take visitation and spending for granted, particularly heading into winter. April was down more than 13 per cent on March and more than three per cent on the same time last year, with southern Tasmania recording a notable fall. That matters because when visitation softens, the impact flows quickly. It hits accommodation providers, pubs, restaurants, bars, cafés, breweries, suppliers, producers and local workers. We need to create the right settings for events across the state that will bring consumers to Tasmania, because we know that when we invest in events it provides a return to the state’s economy. Tasmania has built an incredible reputation around food, beverage, hospitality and tourism. But our industry needs to be protected. This means we need to be backed with practical policy settings that allow businesses to remain viable. Announcements like this should prompt important conversations about the conditions businesses need to succeed and for people to invest in Tasmania. Hospitality Tasmania will continue to advocate strongly for policies that support local businesses, reduce unnecessary cost and policy pressures and encourage year-round visitation and activation. To keep local jobs and vibrant venues that can help build strong regional economies, we need to back them not just in words, but in action. The Boag’s announcement is deeply disappointing, but it should also sharpen the conversation about what kind of future Tasmania wants to build.
That is why this decision has landed so heavily.
But this announcement is also bigger than one brewery. It raises important questions about the operating environment facing businesses across Tasmania. All levels of government need to take notice – this includes local councils – our industry covers every inch of the state and every decision affects what we do, how we can employ and provide for the communities we operate in. When a brand so closely tied to Tasmania can no longer make the numbers stack up to continue brewing here, we need to take that seriously. Rising costs, freight challenges and energy prices are not abstract issues. These are just some of the real pressures being felt by businesses right across the hospitality sector.
Our industry has been saying for some time that
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Tasmanian Hospitality Review June/July Edition
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