Supermarkets still gouging: Nats

SUPERMARKETS have come under fire for continuing to price gouge, one year after the appointment of Craig Emerson as the Independent Reviewer of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct amid fears of continued retribution toward farmers. Nationals leader David Littleproud said the government was not doing enough during the current cost-of-living crisis and slammed the lateness of the independent reviewer's report for 2023-24. Mr Littleproud said suppliers' continued fear of damaging their commercial relationships through retribution was the primary obstacle to them speaking up. He said retribution remained an 'enormous' problem which families were feeling at the checkout. “Labor has failed to implement real change, after previously wasting 100 days appointing Dr Emerson and ignoring the Coalition’s calls for action as far back as 2022,” Mr Littleproud said. “The lack of an annual report for 2023-24 shows Labor isn’t taking the issue seriously. “Supermarkets continue to get away with what they want, when they want." Mr Littleproud said the government's Grocery Code of Conduct needed urgent implementing instead of coming into effect in April. The Coalition proposes to give the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) powers to audit a supermarket at any time to ensure they are dealing with farmers fairly by creating a supermarket commissioner who would act confidentially in addressing retribution. "This will be a game-changer for farmers and suppliers because it will change culture and protect those who need it most." National Farmers’ Federation Horticulture Council member Jeremy Griffith spoke at the Senate inquiry into supermarket price gouging. He said despite the publicity given by the inquiry to protecting both consumers and farmers, it was still questionable whether fruit and vegetable growers would see meaningful change in their business. “We have identified a number of shortcomings with the updated Code and we are yet to see the ACCC empowered and receive the resources needed to hold supermarkets to account,” Mr Griffith said. “Our view is that the government should have divestiture powers on the table, as an additional tool for influencing behaviour and deterring the worst practices of supermarkets that ultimately undermine the sustainability of our national fruit and vegetable industries." Mr Littleproud said the Coalition aimed to introduce sector-specific divestiture powers in the hands of the ACCC and the courts as a last resort to address supermarket behaviour. “We will have on the spot fines of $2 million, compared with Labor’s measly amount of $198,000," he said. "Which could be pulled out of a till at any city supermarket and does nothing to change culture.”