Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — I am very pleased to inform the house that my electorate of Northern Metropolitan Region is home to the world’s best beer. Last Friday I was given a tour of Hawkers Beer brewery in Reservoir, which was recently named supreme champion brewer at the prestigious International Beer Challenge in London.
Hawkers was founded by Mazen Hajjar. He started with four staff in 2015, and in that year produced an impressive 3 million litres of beer. Today he employs 33 full-time staff, and this year will brew 6.5 million litres of beer to be exported worldwide, including to China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sweden — and even Marks & Spencer will be stocking his beer this year.
Hawkers has invested in state-of-the-art plant, equipment and processes, including 190 solar panels on their roof, which provides 60 kilowatts of power, and that is 40 per cent of their electricity requirements. He would put up more, but the law limits him to 60 kilowatts of power. He produces only two standard green bins of waste per week, and feeds hundreds of local cows. Craft beer is the largest growth industry in Australia, and I encourage the government to advocate for a fair tax system for craft beer breweries.
Ms Shing — More opportunities for cows.
The PRESIDENT — That sounds very good, but I am a bit worried about drunken cows, the prospect of that.
