Silence on NZ wine tax

THE Australian Tax Office has refused to reveal how much money New Zealand wineries have received in wine tax rebates.

The Weekly Times this month asked the ATO to disclose how much Australian taxpayers have paid to NZ since it became eligible for wine tax rebates in 2005.

But an ATO spokeswoman refused to say how much had flowed across the Tasman or to explain why the ATO would not provide the figures.

The Federal Government introduced rebates on the 29 per cent Wine Equalisation Tax to Australian wineries in 2004.

But in a move that infuriated local producers, it extended the rebate to NZ a year later.

Winemakers' Federation of Australia chief executive Stephen Strachan acknowledged many local producers were vehemently opposed to NZ wineries receiving the rebate.

But he said it appeared that under the terms of the trade deal, it would be difficult to argue that NZ producers were not eligible.

"We are not supportive of it (the rebate going to NZ)," Mr Strachan said.

"But we have taken the view that it's a consequence of the WET rebate being what it is - there is not much we can do about it."