This Act is about the wine equalisation tax (or wine tax).

The wine tax is a single stage tax applying (in most cases) to dealings in wine at the wholesale level. In almost all dealings to which it applies, the GST will also apply.

Note 1: Wine is widely defined in Subdivision 31-A. It can apply to beverages fermented from any fruit or vegetable. The wine tax also extends to cider, perry, mead and sake (see section 27-1).

Note 2: The wine tax is imposed by 3 Acts:

(a) the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax Imposition—General) Act 1999 ; and (b) the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax Imposition—Customs) Act 1999 ; and (c) the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax Imposition—Excise) Act 1999 .