Labor has been too slow to act on supermarket price gouging, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says as the Leader of the Opposition described the Prime Minister’s review as ‘Mickey Mouse’.

Former Labor Minister Dr Craig Emerson’s interim report of the Review of the voluntary Food and Grocery Code of Conduct released its recommendations today.  The review in part mirrors what The Nationals invited the Government to implement more than 15 months ago: larger fines, stricter enforcement, and a mandatory code.

“Labor’s go-slow on cost-of-living relief started with them distracted by a $450 million failed referendum. Mr Albanese could have accepted The Nationals’ bipartisan approach and delivered relief for families and farmers back in early 2023,” Dr Webster said.

“In a cost-of-living crisis, grocery prices are stretching family budgets while farmers struggle. The Albanese Labor Government is mouthing platitudes instead of taking real action.”

National Farmers Federation president David Jochinke today said “Farmers have continued to suffer a massive power imbalance, so we support measures to improve transparency and accountability. Farmers need this stronger protection in negotiations where there is a large number of small producers dealing with a small number of large retailers.”

“Farmers are paying increased input costs to grow crops and produce food, but their farmgate price from supermarkets remain stagnant,” Dr Webster said.

Australian Consumer and Competition Commission data shows many younger Australians and lower income households are spending up to one-quarter of their net income on groceries.

“Without stronger competition, Australian shoppers and farmers alike need stronger deterrents to ensure supermarkets do not run roughshod over our farmers,” Dr Webster said.

Dr Emerson’s final report is due by June 30, signalling further delay on cost-of-living relief at the checkout.

“A distracted Albanese Labor Government took 100 days just to appoint Dr Emerson to do the review. We need immediate solutions but instead Labor keeps kicking the can down the road,” Dr Webster said.

Meanwhile Opposition Leader Peter Dutton made it clear today in a press conference that the Coalition supports keeping supermarket divestiture powers on the table: “The US, Canada and UK have divestiture powers and Australia should be looking at them … divestiture is something we have been looking at.”