FAITH TABALUJAN:
The Labor government maintains this legislation has been broadly welcomed by producers and farming bodies. Assistant Minister for Competition, Andrew Leigh says a mandatory code of conduct is key to curbing supermarket power.
ANDREW LEIGH:
The rules that govern the relationship between farmers and supermarkets are the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. It was set up by the Liberals and Nationals as a toothless voluntary code. We decided to make it mandatory with multimillion dollar penalties for supermarkets that do the wrong thing. We just passed those penalties through the parliament. This is a really important measure to get a fair go for families and a fair go for farmers.
TABALUJAN:
It has been received with some criticism, particularly from independent member for Indi, Helen Haines, and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud as well. And they said that the bill was rushed through parliament and didn’t – you know – get the consideration that it deserved. So, what do you say to that?
LEIGH:
This has been something where we’ve consulted broadly. This is a reform whose time has come. It has been broadly welcomed by farmers, and it’ll help to improve the power imbalance between suppliers and supermarkets.
MICHAEL CONDON:
That’s Andrew Leigh, who’s the Assistant Member, the Assistant Minister for Competition. You’re listening to the Country Hour. We also heard from Dr Helen Haines, who’s the independent federal Member for Indi. It’s coming up to a quarter to one.