Winemakers from the Cowra Region Vineyard Association have called upon their sitting Federal Members of Parliament, Alby Schultz and Peter Andren, to support the industry’s call to reverse the Federal Government’s policy of increasing the taxation on wine by $87 million per annum., Association President Peter Fagan said that the Cowra Region Vineyard Association expected Alby Schultz and Peter Andren and other pre-selected candidates to support their constituents, rather than take a blind Party Room line as directed by Canberra., “The issue is of such critical importance to winemakers and grapegrowers in the Hume and Calare electorates, and the many small businesses relying upon them in this region, that the sitting member should support what is in the best interests of his constituents,” Mr Fagan said., “There is no question that the Federal Government has been , collecting additional tax at the rate of $87 million per annum since July 1, 2000 and that this additional , burden has placed the viability of many winemakers in this electorate at risk., “Research conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) shows that on a $20 retail bottle of wine sold in Australia by a 1000 tonne winery, the net margin is $0.48 or 2.4%., “The Government’s tax take on the other hand is $4.999 or 25%., “This low level of profitability is unsustainable and the problem is even more severe for the 85% of wineries producing less than 1000 tonnes.”, Mr Fagan said that the Canberra consultants who measured the additional taxation were often used by the Federal Government and , were recognised as leaders in their field., “It is frustrating for winemakers in this region that any benefits flowing from taxation reform have been delivered at the cost of such a substantial taxation increase.”, Mr Fagan said that they were seeking a response in writing from the sitting members of Parliament, as well as all pre-selected candidates, by November 5, after which the policies of each candidate and the local industry’s response would be publicised., It is anticipated that the Cowra Region Vineyard Association winemakers and grapegrowers will attract strong support from a number of small businesses and community groups who rely upon the industry for their livelihood.