Pat Conaghan and The Nationals are calling on the Federal Labor Government to continue the crucial Wine Tourism and Cellar Door grants after failing to provide a coherent response, let alone confirm if the program would continue.

The Nationals leader David Littleproud said the grants enabled wine or cider producers around Australia who had met the eligibility criteria in the preceding financial year to access an annual grant of up to $100,000.

“Regional wine and cider producers across Australia are relying on the grants,” Mr Littleproud said.

“I urge the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt to open the program for applications as soon as possible.”

Federal Member for Cowper said normally the grant round opened on July 1 and closed on September 30 and the delay was causing anxiety among wine and cider producers in Cowper.

“As the program is retrospective and grants would relate to eligible cellar door sales made in the 2021-2022 financial year, it is important that those businesses are able to access the grants as soon as possible,” Mr Conaghan said.

“Businesses have made monetary decisions during the past financial year based on the knowledge that the program would be available the following financial year.

“Australia’s grape and wine industry faces challenges including the cost of doing business, while still recovering from the impact of COVID-19 and natural disasters in our region. Any further delay in delivery of the grants will continue to cause unnecessary stress and uncertainty for businesses and families.”

The grant was previously aimed at encouraging more Australian wine tourism and creating jobs. Total funding under the grant was capped at $10 million each financial year.

“Putting a cork in these grants would harm our great wine and cider industry, an arena that the Mid North Coast is beginning to expand,” Mr Conaghan said.

“We want to toast the industry, not destroy it, and work with Labor to ensure its success.”