Anthony Albanese has been urged to whack the supermarket giants with a “big stick” after it was revealed his government rejected a request to fast-track a review into the chain’s conducts.
The Prime Minister has left the door open to expanding the powers of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to bring the supermarkets into line amid concerns about prices as he contrasted his action to the cost-of-living to his opponent.
“People need a government that is focused on them,” he said.
“That is focused on … cost of living, focus on the prices of things on supermarket shelves, not what sort of thongs are on supermarket shelves,” he said, referring to Peter Dutton’s demand shoppers boycott Woolworths for not stocking Australia Day merch.
But Nationals leader David Littleproud said action could’ve been taken 18 months ago if the government had accepted his support to bring forward the food and grocery code of conduct’s review by 12 months.
“The Prime Minister said (on Tuesday) that his government was concerned and they’re ready to do whatever’s needed,” he said on Wednesday.
“Well, they had an opportunity and they turned their back on it. Now, what we’re saying is, let’s not have more reviews.”
Former trade and competition minister Craig Emerson was last week tapped to review the code – a voluntary scheme that governs how the supermarkets interact with suppliers.
Mr Albanese has signalled he is willing to make that code mandatory should the retailers fail to pass on lower prices.
However, Mr Littleproud said Australians doing it tough couldn’t wait until Dr Emerson’s review is completed.
“Let’s actually make the code mandatory,” he said.
“Let’s put in divestiture powers. Let’s have big stick legislation that we can all walk into, and walk out and then give the ACCC the opportunity to investigate.
“They need to actually look at this price gouging that’s taken place on fresh meat and fresh produce.”
With a by-election in the Melbourne electorate of Dunkley due either next month or early March, prices at the checkout have become a political lightning rod as Mr Albanese scrambles to act to convince voters about his record on the cost-of-living.
The Prime Minister has said he is willing to give the consumer watchdog further powers to investigate grocery prices but only if chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb asks for them.
Ms Cass-Gottlieb has also flagged she is “carefully” considering whether to launch legal action over alleged deceptive pricing.
“I know (the ACCC are) examining it very closely because people are really concerned that when you’ve seen a drop in prices that are paid to farmers like our sheep farmers, that hasn’t flowed through as quickly as it should have to a reduction in prices at the checkout,” he said.