Australian shoppers deserve a fair deal at the supermarket checkout. That’s why Labor is taking action to ensure competition delivers cost of living relief.
Today’s commencement of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Supermarket Inquiry public hearings is an important milestone to getting a fair go for Australian families and farmers.
Over the next two weeks, the ACCC will examine senior executives of Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Metcash, along with a range of suppliers and key consumer and industry stakeholders.
The first two days will see appearances from CHOICE, Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network, Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association of NSW, Australian Food and Grocery Council, AUSVEG, Fruit Growers Victoria and individual apple and pear growers.
Hearings will examine important issues including the supermarkets’ approach to price setting practices, retail competition, supermarket profitability and margins, and serious concerns raised in grocery supply chains.
This is all part of the Government’s supermarket competition policy agenda which includes:
- regulating a mandatory Food and Grocery Code by the end of the year;
- fighting against shrinkflation through strengthening of the Unit Pricing Code;
- providing the ACCC with $30 million of additional enforcement funding;
- funding CHOICE to provide Australians with information on where to get the best deal at the checkout; and
- ensuring the ACCC is notified of every supermarket merger under a strengthened merger regime.
More information on the hearings, including a link to the live stream can be accessed on the ACCC’s website.
The Government looks forward to receiving the ACCC’s final report and recommendations by 28 February 2025.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister of Competition, Andrew Leigh MP
“The Government understands the pressure Australian families and farmers are under. These public hearings will provide an opportunity for supermarket CEOs to answer concerns regarding treatment of suppliers and increasing prices at the checkout.
“Under the Liberals and Nationals, the Food and Grocery Code was a toothless voluntary code. Labor has decided to make it mandatory, with multi‑million dollar penalties.
“The Albanese Government will introduce legislation later this month to attach significant penalties for supermarkets that breach the Food and Grocery Code. We are calling for bipartisan support on this important bill.”