Petition Launched to Save Boag's Brewery from Closure in Launceston

In short:

An online petition has been launched by the United Workers Union in a bid to try and stop the closure of Boag's Brewery in Launceston.

The brewery first opened in 1881 and employs about 40 people.

What's next?

The union is calling on the brewery's owner to sell the business and brand, rather than close down production in Tasmania.

There is a new push to save Boag's Brewery in Launceston from closing down.

The union that represents workers at the brewery has started a community petition and written to Premier Jeremy Rockliff, urging him to intervene and stop the brewery's slated closure.

Boags's parent company, Lion Australia, announced in early June its plan to stop production in Tasmania by November.

Boag's first opened in Launceston in 1881 and is one of Australia's longest continuously operating brewing locations.

The United Workers Union's Ben Dudman said the brewery currently employed about 40 people and should be sold to a new owner, rather than closed down.

"Boag's has a 145-year history in this state and in Launceston, where it's been brewed," Mr Dudman said.

"It's important for local jobs, not just at the brewery where workers are most impacted, but more broadly as well.

"This impacts local tourism, local hospitality and our broader northern economy.

"There's close to 40 workers that will be impacted at Boag's in Launceston should this decision go ahead, it is a larger employer in Launceston and the impacts flow further than just the brewery technicians."

Lion Australia said the decision came amid a decline in the national beer market and high costs.

"Long-term decline in the national beer market has caused the brewery to run significantly under capacity for many years.

"It is currently operating at about a fifth of its capacity," the company said in a statement in June.

"This, combined with significant cost inflation, means the brewery is no longer viable."

The union has launched an online petition.

"Boag's belongs to Tasmania. It's part of our history. It's a symbol of Northern Tasmania, an important tourist attraction and a significant boost to our local economy," Amy Brumby from the United Workers Union said.

" Nobody is going to drink a Boag's made in Queensland — it will kill the brand. "

"We need to save our history, protect Tasmanian jobs, and invest in our future. We saw Lion shut down West End brewing in Adelaide — we can't let that happen to us."