Country Pubs Are Dying — And When the Pub Dies, The Town Dies Too.

Something is changing across regional Australia — and not for the better.

Quietly, without headlines, country pubs are disappearing.

One by one.

Some close after floods.
Some after fires.
Some because costs just become too much.

And when they go, something bigger disappears with them.

Because a country pub isn’t just a business.

It’s where farmers meet after a hard season.
It’s where new locals make their first friends.
It’s where live music happens, raffles raise money, and communities check in on each other.

In many towns, it’s the last place people gather face-to-face.

Right now, many of these pubs are fighting a losing battle — and one of the biggest pressures is Australia’s alcohol excise system.

Australia already has some of the highest beer taxes in the world.

Beer excise rises automatically with inflation, traditionally twice every year, regardless of whether small regional pubs can absorb the cost.

Every increase makes it harder:

Harder to keep prices fair for locals already struggling with cost of living.
Harder to employ staff.
Harder to survive when energy, insurance and supply costs are already sky-high.

Meanwhile, pubs continue to support communities — sponsoring local sport, hosting fundraisers, and acting as unofficial social hubs that reduce isolation in regional areas.

And yet, with every automatic tax increase, they are pushed closer to the edge.

This isn’t about politics. This is about survival.

Because when a country pub closes:

❌ Jobs disappear
❌ Tourism slows
❌ Local identity fades
❌ Social connection weakens

And often, the town never quite feels the same again.

We believe country pubs should be recognised as essential community infrastructure — not treated as an easy source of revenue without consideration for their role in regional Australia.

We call on the Australian Government to:

✅ Review the alcohol excise system and its impact on regional pubs
✅ Consider targeted relief or reforms that support small community venues
✅ Recognise the vital social and economic role country pubs play

If you’ve ever walked into a pub and felt instantly welcome…

If you believe regional communities deserve places that bring people together…

If you don’t want to see another country pub close forever —

Add your name.

Because when the pub dies, the town loses part of its soul.

Sign the petition today.