New artisan liquor laws open up options for independent Toowoomba brewers

The Queensland parliament has cleared the way for craft beers to be included as part of huge events like Toowoomba’s Festival of Food and Wine.

PROST: New laws have passed parliament that will make it easier for boutique producers to sell their wares. Picture: iStock

It’s been a mainstay of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers for years.

But now there’s the possibility that the much-loved Festival of Food and Wine could be extended to include local craft brewers.

Thanks to new laws which passed parliament Tuesday and are proposed to come into legislation on May 3, boutique alcohol producers will be able to apply for a new artisan producer licence which will give them the option applying for a permit to sell their products at public events.

Under the new licence, there will also be no limit to how much of their own product can be sold on their premises, they can sell their product as takeaway, including online, and there’s also an option for them to showcase and sell samples of their wares at promotional events such as farmer’s markets, food festivals, and agricultural shows.

Speaking in support of the changes in parliament on Tuesday, Toowoomba North MP said the new laws presented a great opportunity around the Carnival of Flowers.

Pointing to the Festival of Food and Wine, Mr Watts said: “I am going to recommend that we change that and add craft beer on the end”.

Mr Watts said the region had plenty of talented craft beer brewers – listing Toowoomba’s 4 Brothers Brewing, Volcanic Brewing, and Monty Brewing Co as prime examples.

“But it has been difficult for those people to be able to distribute it at that event under the previous legislation,” he told parliament.

Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts.

“It has been a complicated process that has meant that if you are a craft manufacturer, it is not an easy process and there are plenty of hoops to jump through.”

Attorney-General and Justice Minister Shannon Fentiman said the new laws were about backing small business, creating jobs, and helping Queensland kickstart its economy after COVID-19.

“And this is fantastic news for Queensland’s artisan distillers and craft brewers to help them grow their business, and their brand.”