This bill became law on Sep 15th, 2026.
Industry, agriculture & resources
Wine AustraliaThe national authority responsible for wine-sector functions. can conduct or arrange surveys of the grape and wine industries.
The government said the bill would help put recommendations from Dr Craig Emerson’s wine and grape sector review into practice. In particular, sharing survey information would help the competition regulator identify which businesses should be covered by a proposed mandatory codeBinding rules for wine-grape purchasing. for wine-grape purchases. The government also said access to up-to-date levy-payer contact details would help ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. reach survey participants and improve agricultural research; it placed the changes in a sector forecast to be worth $110 billion in 2025–26.
Australia already had a voluntary wine-grape code, but the Emerson review found that growers faced weak bargaining power and unfair contracting while vineyard removals showed the industry's severe pressure, creating a case for a mandatory codeBinding rules for wine-grape purchasing. backed by the ACCCAustralia’s competition and consumer regulator.. The bill, introduced by Hon Julie Collins MP, gave Wine AustraliaThe national authority responsible for wine-sector functions. clearer survey and information-sharing powers to help identify businesses covered by that code and let ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. use levy-payer contacts for agricultural surveys; after Royal Assent, the ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. changes began the next day.
Tom Venning (Liberal) said levy payers would not have to be notified when their information was shared and could not opt out. He also argued that the bill did not tackle the industry’s deeper crisis, including about 262 million litres of excess wine and falling prices after the smallest harvest in 25 years. Darren Chester (The Nationals) similarly said the administrative changes were only one part of the answer and criticised the government for not backing an industry proposal worth $139 million over three years. Monique Ryan (Independent) argued that the bill left wine-tax reform unresolved: wine remained taxed at 29 per cent of wholesale value rather than by alcohol content, while some cask wine cost as little as 24 cents per standard drink.
Hon Julie Collins MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 15 Sept 2026
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
76 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Wine AustraliaThe national authority responsible for wine-sector functions. can conduct or arrange surveys of the grape and wine industries. The surveys can support wine law and competition and consumer law, including work connected with the proposed mandatory codeBinding rules for wine-grape purchasing. for wine-grape purchases.
The Wine AustraliaThe national authority responsible for wine-sector functions. Act now expressly aims to support competition and consumer law in the grape and wine industries. This includes supporting the proposed mandatory codeBinding rules for wine-grape purchasing. for wine-grape purchases.
Wine AustraliaThe national authority responsible for wine-sector functions. and authorised officials can use or share information for defined purposes. These include administering wine law, helping Commonwealth agencies such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, law enforcement, and approved research or data analysis.
Personal information shared outside government for research or data analysis must generally be stripped of identifying details. If that would stop the work, only the minimum personal information needed may be shared, and the recipient must follow an agreement limiting further use or disclosure.
Current or former authorised officials face a maximum civil penaltyA court-ordered financial penalty, not a crime. of 60 penalty units for improperly using or disclosing protected information, including confidential commercial information. The penalty does not apply when disclosure is authorised by law or made in good faith while carrying out the legislation.
The Act repeals subsections 45A(7) and 45A(8) of the Wine AustraliaThe national authority responsible for wine-sector functions. Act.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, known as ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau., can share levy and charge payers’ contact details with outside providers to run agricultural surveys. For example, a mailing company could send survey letters and questionnaires. Outside recipients must follow a Commonwealth agreement, and information must be stripped of identifying details unless the research needs the minimum personal details necessary.
The Act protects Wine AustraliaThe national authority responsible for wine-sector functions., its directors, employees and inspectors from civil liability when they provide specified information or assistance through the authorised system. It also changes the Agriculture Department secretary’s rule-making power so the levy and charge provisions operate as intended.
The wine-industry changes start on a day set by proclamation. If they have not started within six months beginning on royal assent, they start the day after that period ends. The ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. information changes start the day after royal assent.
1 At the end of section 3 ; and (e) to support the operation of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 in relation to the grape industry and wine industry. 2 Subsection 4(1) civil penalty provision has the same meaning as in the Regulatory Powers Act. Commonwealth entity has the same meaning as in the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. entrusted person means any of the following: (a) the Minister; (b) the Secretary; (c) a director of the Authority; (d) an employee of the Authority (see section 30); (e) a consultant engaged under section 30A; (f) an inspector;Wine and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026
1 At the end of section 3 ; and (e) to support the operation of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 in relation to the grape industry and wine industry.Wine and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026
7 Before section 41A Subdivision A—Authorised uses and disclosures by entrusted person or other persons 41AC Use or disclosure for the purposes of this Act An entrusted person may use or disclose relevant information in the course of or for the purposes of: (a) administering this Act or the regulations or monitoring compliance with this Act or the regulations; or (b) assisting another person to administer this Act or the regulations or monitor compliance with this Act or the regulations. 41AD Use or disclosure for the purposes of other Acts An entrusted person may use or disclose relevaWine and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026
(4) Despite subsection (2), an entrusted person must not disclose relevant information to another person or body as mentioned in paragraph (3)(d) unless: (a) the person or body has undertaken not to use or further disclose the information except in accordance with an agreement that: (i) is in force between the Commonwealth, or a body corporate that is established by a law of the Commonwealth, and that person or body; and (ii) applies in relation to the information; and (b) the entrusted person is satisfied that the information will be used or further disclosed only in accordance with the aWine and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026
Subdivision D—Protected information 41AP Civil penalty—use or disclosure of protected information Civil penalty (1) A person contravenes this subsection if: (a) the person is, or has been, an entrusted person; and (b) the person has obtained or generated information in the course of or for the purposes of: (i) administering this Act or the regulations or monitoring compliance with this Act or the regulations; or (ii) assisting another person to administer this Act or the regulations or monitor compliance with this Act or the regulations; and (c) the information is of a kind covered byWine and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026
8 Subsection 45A(7) (including the heading) Repeal the subsection. 9 Subsection 45A(8) Repeal the subsection.Wine and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026
Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 2024 1 Subsection 28(4) Omit “or (3)”. 2 At the end of section 28 Requirements for disclosing information to non‑Commonwealth persons or bodies (5) Despite subsection (3), an entrusted person must not disclose relevant levy/charge information in accordance with that subsection to a person or body other than a person or body covered by subsection (8) (about Commonwealth bodies) unless the requirements in subsections (6) (about on‑disclosure) and (7) (about personal information) are met. (6) The requirements are that: (a) the person orWine and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026
5 Section 39ZK Repeal the section, substitute: 39ZK Civil proceedings not to lie against Authority etc. (1) Any of the following persons or bodies is not subject to any civil liability for, or in relation to, the doing of a thing mentioned in subsection (2): (a) the Authority; (b) a director of the Authority; (c) an employee of the Authority; (d) an inspector. (2) The things are: (a) giving information obtained under this Part to a person or body referred to in paragraph 39ZJ(1)(a), (b) or (c) in accordance with Division 1 of Part VII; or (b) providing assistance to such a person orWine and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026
2 Commencement (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms. Commencement information Commencement Date/Details 1. Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 2. Schedule 1 A single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if the provisions do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal AssentWine and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026
Context
Australia already had a voluntary wine-grape code, but the Emerson review found that growers faced weak bargaining power and unfair contracting while vineyard removals showed the industry's severe pressure, creating a case for a mandatory codeBinding rules for wine-grape purchasing. backed by the ACCCAustralia’s competition and consumer regulator.. The bill, introduced by Hon Julie Collins MP, gave Wine AustraliaThe national authority responsible for wine-sector functions. clearer survey and information-sharing powers to help identify businesses covered by that code and let ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. use levy-payer contacts for agricultural surveys; after Royal Assent, the ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. changes began the next day.
Emerson review finds growers lack bargaining power
The review found that the voluntary code left grape growers exposed to unfair contracting and recommended a mandatory codeBinding rules for wine-grape purchasing. for wine-grape purchases.
Hansard ↗Hon Julie Collins MP introduces the bill
The House of Representatives began the bill's parliamentary passage to support the proposed mandatory codeBinding rules for wine-grape purchasing. and improve agricultural survey access.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both Houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the changes for Royal Assent.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal Assent turns bill into an Act
The wine-industry provisions were set to start by proclamation, while the ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. information changes were scheduled for the next day.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. survey information changes begin
ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. could share levy and charge payers' contact details with authorised outside providers under safeguards so agricultural surveys could reach participants.
Wine and Other Legislation Amendment explanatory memorandum ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
Tom Venning (Liberal) said levy payers would not have to be notified when their information was shared and could not opt out. He also argued that the bill did not tackle the industry’s deeper crisis, including about 262 million litres of excess wine and falling prices after the smallest harvest in 25 years. Darren Chester (The Nationals) similarly said the administrative changes were only one part of the answer and criticised the government for not backing an industry proposal worth $139 million over three years. Monique Ryan (Independent) argued that the bill left wine-tax reform unresolved: wine remained taxed at 29 per cent of wholesale value rather than by alcohol content, while some cask wine cost as little as 24 cents per standard drink.
The Coalition speakers cited here supported the bill despite arguing that it was too limited. The government said the bill would help Wine AustraliaThe national authority responsible for wine-sector functions. and ABARESThe federal agriculture research and economics bureau. produce better information and support the proposed mandatory purchasing code; it also said existing and new privacy safeguards would govern third-party handling of personal information.
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Collins supports the bill as a practical way to improve transparency and regulation in wine-grape purchasing and strengthen agricultural research, while safeguarding protected and personal information.
Read in Hansard ↗Penfold says the coalition supports the bill because it lays the groundwork for fairer rules between grape growers and large winemakers, but argues it does not address the wine surplus, weak demand, retailer market power or the industry's wider need for structural support.
Read in Hansard ↗Ryan supports the bill because its mandatory codeBinding rules for wine-grape purchasing. and fairer trading arrangements will protect wine grape growers, but argues the government should also replace the wine equalisation tax with a volumetric tax to stop favouring cheap, high-volume wine.
Read in Hansard ↗Violi says the coalition supports the bill because a mandatory codeBinding rules for wine-grape purchasing. can correct bargaining-power imbalances between grape growers and large winemakers, but argues the government must also address wider industry pressures and support regional wineries and wine tourism.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
5 speakers · 6 contributions · 5 support
“None of these measures alone solve every challenge facing the wine sector, but they are addressing them. They represent a government that is showing up for an industry that has too often been left to fend for itself. This bill is the foundation of a fairer, more enforceable set of rules governing one of the country's great agricultural industries. It backs in growers. It backs in winemakers—like Rebecca and Adrian, from my community, and thousands like them across the country—who spent years being told to wait for a fair deal that never quite arrived. This bill makes sure we have fairness in the paddock and fairness at the negotiating table. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“At a time when many sectors are under pressure, the wine industry deserves policy that is clear, practical and grounded in reality. It deserves reforms that help restore trust, support investment and promote sustainability. That is what this bill attempts to do. It strengthens Wine Australia, supports ABARES, improves the regulatory framework for grape purchasing and gives the industry a better basis on which to plan for the future. In closing, this is a sensible bill and a welcome one. It recognises the value of the wine sector, the hard work of growers and winemakers and the importance of fair dealing in commercial relationships. It provides a stronger framework for transparency, better data and more accountable market behaviour. It is a bill that supports regional Australia, supports agricultural resilience and supports a more confident future for one of our most important export industries. For those reasons, I am proud to support the Wine and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“These are practical changes. They will strengthen the ability of Wine Australia and ABARES to continue their important research work, support better decisions, and help industry keep building a strong future.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Julie Collins on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Collins supports the bill as a practical way to improve transparency and regulation in wine-grape purchasing and strengthen agricultural research, while safeguarding protected and personal information.
“These are practical changes. They will strengthen the ability of Wine Australia and ABARES to continue their important research work, support better decisions, and help industry keep building a strong future.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Collins supports the bill, arguing it will strengthen the wine sector by enabling industry surveys, improving information management and supporting research while safeguarding protected information.
“These amendments will modernise and strengthen the wine act while ensuring there are appropriate safeguards for protected information. The amendments to the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 2024—the collection act—would enable the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, known as ABARES, within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, to disclose certain relevant levy/charge payer information to third parties to perform its functions, including research and data analysis. In particular, the amendments would allow ABARES to disclose relevant and targeted levy/charge payer information to third-party mail-house companies to enable ABARES to continue to conduct agricultural surveys. The bill would also make a technical change to the rule-making power in the collection act to ensure that the power operates as intended, consistent with other specific rule-making powers in the act. These changes will strengthen the ability of Wine Australia and ABARES to continue their important research work and continue strengthening the industry into the future.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“These amendments would modernise and strengthen the Wine Australia Act while ensuring that there are appropriate safeguards for protected information. These changes will strengthen the ability of Wine Australia and ABARES to continue their important research work and continue to strengthen the industry for the future. The Australian government is committed to supporting the wine industry, the agribusiness sector, tourism more broadly and particularly regional Australia.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
8 speakers · 8 support
“The coalition supports this bill. A properly designed mandatory code can improve transparency and provide clearer and fairer rules between growers and winemakers, but nobody should pretend this legislation fixes the Australian wine industry. It doesn't address the enormous wine surplus, it doesn't rebuild international demand, it doesn't address concentrated market power further down the supply chain, and it doesn't provide the structural support the industry itself says it needs.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Wine and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026. Given that I represent the best wine region in Australia, it would be remiss of me not to speak. I want to acknowledge, Deputy Speaker Haines, that the King Valley in your community has some good wine areas as well—just not quite as good as the Yarra Valley's! We take pride in serving communities like the Menzies community. We play such key roles in our communities but also in serving Australia and the world. The coalition is supporting this bill. It's in response to the findings of the Emerson review, which found that grapegrowers face an imbalance in bargaining power against large winemakers and the voluntary code is no longer fit for purpose.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The ask of government is a pretty simple one: support growers in the Riverland and the industry more generally to transition. This bill is not what's currently needed, but it is something we support. So I'm quite happy to see it pass the House, but it is a really small part of what needs to occur right now.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The industry has been calling for sensible, targeted and limited financial support. But that's not what we're here to talk about today, and that is a great shame. Nonetheless, the coalition is supportive of this bill, because it responds to the findings of the Emerson review, and the member for Lyne was just discussing that imbalance whereby fruitgrowers have such little bargaining power with larger winemakers and how the existing voluntary code of conduct in that space is no longer fit for purpose.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I think we can do better. I'm supportive of this bill. It's just a start, though. Agriculture is important to this country. Irrigated agriculture is essential. The communities of the Murray-Darling Basin are worth fighting for and worth appreciating, and policies that damage them deserve our strongest condemnation. I condemn these policies of taking more irrigation water out of our beautiful Murray-Darling Basin. I hope that we can all work together to try and right the ship that is the wine industry and get it back to a sustainable footing, but that is going to take some assistance. This bill helps, but it's nowhere near enough.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Wine and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, which was introduced in the House of Reps by the minister in July this year. There are two schedules to the bill. Schedule 1 amends the Wine Australia Act 2013 to allow information sharing with the ACCC. Schedule 2 amends the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 2024. I stress, at the outset, that there are no financial impacts on the budget from the bill before the chamber. No additional costs will be incurred by growers, and, as per the explanatory memorandum, it's on that basis that the coalition supports the legislation as it was presented by the minister.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition supports this bill. We support it because it responds directly to the Emerson review, which found that grape growers have too little bargaining power against large winemakers and that the voluntary code we have now is no longer fit for purpose. The government accepted that finding in December last year and promised to develop a mandatory code during 2026. This bill is a step on that path, but it's not the destination.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In closing, this bill is a sensible reform. It will help deliver fairer commercial relationships between grape growers and winemakers, and on that basis the coalition will support it, but I want to leave the chamber in no doubt that this bill should be seen as only one small part of the solution to the challenges that this industry is facing. If this government is serious about securing the future of one of our great regional industries, it needs to pair reforms like this one with practical and meaningful support for growers, for regional wineries and for wine tourism rather than cutting successful programs and continuing to load costs onto the very producers that it claims to support. The coalition will continue to support practical and sensible reforms that strengthen Australia's wine industry. We will also keep standing up for our growers, we'll also keep standing up for our regional communities, we'll also keep standing up for family businesses and we will keep holding this government to account for the industry it continues to let down. I commend the bill to the Senate.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“I support this bill and the fairer trading arrangements that it will deliver for wine grape growers, but I ask the government not to treat fairness in this sector as finished business. Growers deserve a market that isn't distorted against quality. Communities deserve a tax system that doesn't quietly subsidise the cheapest and most harmful product on the shelf. Twenty-six years after the wine equalisation tax was designed and 16 years after the Henry review told us that we need to fix it, it's well past time that this parliament did. To that end, I move:”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
