I’m not here to defend Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci (Woolies, Greens in fiery clash over profit metrics, April 17). I am sure he can do that for himself. But the attack on him by Greens senator Nick McKim, chairman of the Senate select committee on supermarket prices, focusing on Woolworths’ return on equity was pathetic as much as it was egregious.

The terms of reference, for this Senate committee, are “to inquire into and report on the price setting practices and market power of major supermarkets”, with particular reference 10 identifiable matters. The return on shareholder equity is not one of them.