A damning report on supermarket behaviour from the consumer watchdog has vindicated The Nationals’ ongoing calls for immediate action to stop alleged price gouging of farmers and families.
The ACCC’s 266-page Interim Report from its Supermarket Price Inquiry accuses Woolworths and Coles of operating within an “oligopoly” through their combined 67 per cent share of the market; something ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh says, “can limit incentives to compete vigorously on price.”
The report notes suppliers have “repeatedly raised strong concerns” about the alleged practices of the supermarkets, saying the strongest concerns have come from fruit and vegetable suppliers, who needs to participate in weekly tenders to supply their products to Woolworths and Coles.
According to Nationals Leader David Littleproud, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had been distracted and focusing on the wrong priorities while the country’s major supermarkets had been allowed to run riot, impacting farmers at the farm gate and families at the checkout, with Mr Littleproud saying Farmers have been unable to speak out for fear of retribution, and families have been left with no choice but to hand over their hard-earned money to this monopoly – and that it must stop.
