David Littleproud says Albanese government ‘failing to act’ on supermarket price gouging

The Albanese government hasn’t appointed a person to scrutinise the food and grocery code of conduct, 100 days after the review was announced.

Jim Chalmers says when the price of fresh food goes down at the farm gate, it should go down on the supermarket shelves too. Picture: Brendan Radke

Labor has failed to appoint someone to scrutinise the food and grocery code of conduct nearly 100 days after a review was announced, as it comes under pressure to crack down on supermarket price gouging.

Nationals leader David Littleproud accused the government of “failing to act” to ensure farmers and customers were being treated fairly by supermarkets, with Jim Chalmers acknowledging profiteering was a concern.

The food and grocery code of conduct review’s terms of reference were released on October 3 and would assess the effectiveness of the code in improving the relationship between grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers and consider whether it needed to be overhauled or repealed.

“It’s now (on Wednesday) 100 days since Labor announced a review to report by the 30th (of) June, 2024, which was meant to be its solution for suppliers dealing with supermarkets and price transparency for families at the checkout, but Labor still hasn’t appointed a reviewer,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Labor is out of touch with the priorities of Australian families. How can a reviewer report by its due date of 30 June, 2024, when it doesn’t even exist? Our growers and farmers need the confidence to get their fair share, to know they can negotiate in good faith and get paid on the right terms. Families and farmers deserve better than Labor’s lies and failure to act.”

Assistant Competition and Treasury Minister Andrew Leigh said the reviewer would be announced “in due course”.

“The terms of reference for the review of the food and grocery code have been released and the Treasury secretariat is in place,” he said.

Jim Chalmers on Monday said if supermarkets were buying food from farmers at a reduced rate, they should be selling it to customers cheaper too.

He pledged to take further steps if necessary, noting he would meet with Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb later this week as the Nationals call for the watchdog to hold an inquiry into supermarket price gouging.

“This is of concern to us,” Dr Chalmers said.

“When the price of meat and fruit and vegies comes down for supermarkets, it should come down for families as well. This is why we’re having a fresh look at the grocery code, it’s why we’re having a fresh look at our competition laws because we want to make sure that people who are already doing it tough enough get a fair go in the aisles of our supermarkets right around Australia.”