Cricket great takes aim at Albo's beer tax freeze

Cricket great David Warner has slammed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's move to combat soaring beer prices. 

On Monday, Albanese promised to pause the government's tax hike on beers poured at pubs for the next two years. 

Albanese announced the policy while enjoying his "first beer of the year" at the Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre in Marrickville.

"This will make a difference. It is a positive announcement. As I said, good for beer drinkers, good for pubs and clubs, good for cost of living pressures," he said. 

Australia's inflation-indexed alcohol tax - which increases twice annually - has long been an issue for breweries, pub owners and customers. 

This month, there was a 3.5 per cent rise on the price of beer, an additional cost that usually gets passed onto the customer. 

The Prime Minister said if he is re-elected, the Labor government would freeze the indexation on draught beer excise for 24 months from the next indexation date this coming August. 

However, Warner believes this move is a "few years too late," slamming the Prime Minister's pledge on social media. 

Warner, who is an investor and director of Victoria's St Andrews Beach Brewery, has been affected by the rising prices. 

Shortly after Albanese's announcement, Coalition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor said Peter Dutton, if elected, would also freeze tax.

"The government has chosen the eve of an election to promise voters a freeze on a tax that has skyrocketed due to its failure to address inflation at its core," Taylor said.

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