Mallee residents struggling with the rising cost of living will have to wait even longer for relief at the checkout, with the Albanese Government's penalties for supermarket abuses of power only coming into force in April 2025.

During a frenetic final sitting day for 2024, Labor introduced its Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) Bill then brought it on immediately to vote without scrutiny or proper debate.  The Bill imposes penalties for non-compliance with the Food and Grocery Code, which will be made mandatory through Regulations to be made after passage of the Bill.

“For years the Coalition have consistently fought for cost-of-living relief for Australians with tougher powers against the price-gouging of the major supermarkets,” Dr Webster said.

“Labor’s plan offers distant relief on the 1st of April, which will not see the major supermarkets lift their game and immediately bring cost-of-living relief.”

“The Coalition called for a mandatory Code with significant penalties in late 2022 and then for a price inquiry into the disparities between farmgate and retail pricing at Australia’s major supermarkets. If Labor had taken our advice when the Coalition began calling for changes, families could have seen action earlier.

“Labor instead left Australians floundering in a home-grown inflation crisis, taking 100 days to appoint Reviewer Craig Emerson, after a review into the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct was meant to begin. Labor has been far too slow to act and is now catching up to the Coalition.”

“While being too late, it’s also too little. Labor’s infringement notice penalties are just $187,700, compared with the Coalition’s plan, which is $2 million. Labor’s high penalty will only be for some breaches and other penalties will be just over $1 million.

“In contrast, the Coalition’s plan will give the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) powers to audit supermarkets to ensure Code compliance - and create a Supermarket Commissioner, to act as a confidential avenue for farmers and suppliers to avoid the fear of retribution.

“Our plan will also establish sector-specific divestiture powers – in the hands of the ACCC and the courts, not politicians – as a last resort to address harmful supermarket behaviour and end price-gouging.”

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