Senate inquiry will investigate whether ‘supermarket duopoly’ is ‘fair and equitable’

Deputy Nationals Leader Perin Davey says the Senate inquiry on supermarket prices will investigate the strength of the “supermarket duopoly” and whether supermarket practices are “fair and equitable” for farmers and consumers.

Australia’s two supermarket giants will face scrutiny as a Senate inquiry investigates their market power and pricing decisions after the Greens secured the government’s support to establish an inquiry earlier this month.

The party will push for Coles and Woolworths chief executives to give evidence about their pricing strategies.

Both supermarket chains posted profits of more than $1 billion each for the previous financial year.

“What we know in Australia and what we’ve been talking about in the Nationals for a long time is the strength of the supermarket duopoly.

“What we want to make sure of and by using this Senate Inquiry, we can have a look at what the practices are for the supermarkets, is their strength increasing, what is the differential between what they’re paying the farmers and what the consumers are paying.

“Sometimes when we know that supermarkets have increasingly gone towards direct engagement, direct contracts with farmers, but is that paying off for the farmers or is that having a negative impact?

“We need to understand what the impact of the supermarket practices is on both the farmers, but also consumer prices, to make sure it’s fair and equitable across the whole supply chain.”

[effbee]

The ACCC and goverent messed up big time allowing Woolies to swallow Safeway and Coles to eat bolo. Their prices for similar goods seem to be on lockstep with each other. I did a shop about 10days and then 3 days ago and I saw a number of items with higher prices eg Coles 2 litre diet lemonade from 1.45 to 2.00. On special for 2 for 3 dollars. This increase is39 percent. Another example is Coles small wholemeal taps. From 2 dollars 2vyears ago to 2.20 to 2.50 last week now 2.70.
A lot of these increases are suspiciously close to Christmas when people expect to spend more. By the New Year we will have become accustomed to this.
Woolies is no better. At this rate IGA and Aldi are looking better and better except I don't have an Aldi within 400km .
And the cheek in charging up to 40 dollars per kilo for top grade lamb when the poor farmers are recently only getting 40 for a large lamb. Coles and Woolies are making billions due to lack of real competition . The ACCC allowing a South American company to take over many commercial abbatoirs has not helped .
Promote competition - don't kill it.

[heathergrigg]

I have old receipts from both these stores and the prices have doubled if not more over a relatively short period of time. They have been ripping us off for years. They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on improper marketing…..eg buy two items and save !
Many older cheaper food items you can’t buy in store anymore, these stores know the item’s that struggling families buy so those items go up in price quickly. Mince, chicken, pasta, who can afford Seafood these days ?
$32 a kilo for Ham in the Deli, $2.50 for tiny tin of Tuna that a one year old could eat. Boycott both of them for a couple of months and make a stand

[Michaelkayslay]

Government should create own shopping company. Limit prices.

[jjsc]

Inquiry will use words in room to dissemble, play kabuki & pretend it’s actually doing something meaningful & taking action.

[davidcarter]

In the nearest regional city to me, there are three Woolies, three Coles, two IGA, two Aldi and a Harris Farm. That is not a duopoly.

[Kelly-wfie]

Vanguard own Woolworths etc.. that should tell U EVERYTHING !
Complicit in ALL the COVID 💩, IMO as I witnessed everything !!
R the Australian people aware of the illegal facial recognition on those self serve machines ? ALL unlawful + unconstitutional, they are breaking law, period !! Did U give consent 4 them 2 record U, I 🤔 NOT

[MeghanWood-fbin]

Going to Heaven is easy!

First, you must realize that the punishment for committing even one sin, unless you are forgiven, is eternity in hell. To be saved from hell and forgiven of all sin, believe that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Cor 15:1-4). When you believe that Christ’s atoning work paid for all your sins and when you make Jesus your only hope of going to Heaven, you are forgiven of all sin by God and forever saved from hell. Warning: None of our good deeds can get us into Heaven. If we trust in our own works to get us to Heaven instead of Christ’s atonement, we will not be allowed in. The Bible says “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). In conclusion, just believe that all your sins are paid for by Jesus’ atoning work and make Christ your only hope of going to Heaven.

Jesus says “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47

[shannonwilson]

U need to waste more money to get an answer. Its so obvious they have a monoply