Nationals Leader, David Littleproud, said the supermarkets don’t fear weak Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as Labor announces yet again another insulting and disingenuous review into supermarket price gouging.
Mr Littleproud said all Labor is announcing is again another committee for a problem they created.
“The Prime Minister is too weak to stand up to the big supermarkets and Australian families are going to pay the price,” Mr Littleproud said.
“You can do more reviews and change laws but unless there is a deterrent and a consequence for doing the wrong thing, then it’s business as usual for our supermarkets.
“The supermarkets don’t fear Anthony Albanese and in fact, it looks as though they control Anthony Albanese.”
Mr Littleproud said Labor’s announcement today will be its fifth review, after the dispute resolution review, a Code review, a price inquiry review, and a Senate inquiry.
“Australians are hurting now and we can’t afford another three years of a talkfest.
“Labor is not taking serious action on grocery prices and it doesn’t have a plan.
“Grocery prices have increased by 30 per cent under Labor’s watch.
“If we are going to continue to just do more reporting, we will get the same consequences. We have got to change culture and the only way to do that is with a deterrent that the Coalition will introduce.
“When there are Australian families that can’t afford to put dinner on the table, I would have thought a Prime Minister that actually cares and is in touch would sign up to a deterrent.”
Mr Littleproud said The Nationals have a strong plan to crack down on major supermarkets and deliver fair prices, including:
• Tough new penalties with $2 million on the spot fines – ten times higher than under Labor, by strengthening the Food and Grocery Code.
• Increased powers for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to conduct random audits of major supermarkets.
• A Supermarket Commissioner, to act as a confidential avenue for farmers and suppliers, to address the fear of retribution.
• Sector-specific divestiture powers, in the hands of the ACCC and the courts, as a last resort to address the behaviour of supermarkets and to put an end to instances of price gouging.
Mr Littleproud said The Nationals have been calling for action since 2022.
“The entire time, supermarkets have been able to price gouge under Labor, because Anthony Albanese’s measly fine of $198,000 could be pulled out of a till at any city, and that does nothing to change culture.
“Anthony Albanese has been too weak to stand up to the major supermarkets and has had the wrong priorities, making excuse after excuse for three years.
“Our plan will protect families at the checkout and farmers at the farm gate.”
