‘It will kill the brand’: plea over brewery’s closure
The closure of a century-old brewery will destroy the beer brand, according to disgruntled workers who have made a last-ditch appeal to change its mind.
Parent company Lion announced in June that production at James Boag’s brewery in Launceston would cease in November.
The brewery, which first opened in 1881 and employs approximately 40 people, is the homeland of beer.
Lion has shifted some of James Boag’s production out of Launceston in 2024 and said the brewery is now operating at a fifth of its capacity.
The company also stated that the decision to close was due to a decline in beer sales across the country, but it will continue to produce the beer on the Australian mainland.
The United Workers Union launched a petition on Tuesday calling on Lion to sell the brewery and for the Tasmanian government to intervene.
“Boag’s belongs in Tasmania, it’s part of our history,” union co-ordinator Amy Brumby said.
“This is an icon of Northern Tasmania, a major tourist attraction and a significant contribution to our local economy.
“No one will drink a Boag made in Queensland; it will destroy the brand.”
The petition had garnered more than 300 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon, but the dial is unlikely to change.
Lion said they were exploring every possible way to make the brewery a viable business in the context of a long-term decline in the market and significant cost inflation.
“We appreciate the significance of our proposed closure to our team members, those who previously worked on site and the wider Launceston community,” a statement said.
“We know this is incredibly difficult news and we are still consulting with our affected team members regarding this proposal.”
A brewery on the site will remain open and will remain “Boag’s home in Launceston”, the company said.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the closure announcement was devastating but had made Lion’s plans clear and would work with the community on what to do following the site’s closure.
“I understand what the union is saying. In many ways, many Tasmanians would like to have Boag back in Tasmania’s hands,” he told reporters.
“In terms of Lion and their plans… it’s up to Lion.
“We would welcome any discussions to ensure that the building itself and the brewery remain in Tasmanian hands.”
Lion has previously announced it would set up a $500,000 fund to reskill workers, give $500,000 to grassroots organizations in Tasmania and repay a $1 million state government grant.
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