NSW Farmers welcomes today's announcement by the Albanese Government that if re-elected, it will crack down on price gouging by the big supermarkets but warns more needs to be done.
A re-elected Albanese Labor Government has committed to making price-gouging illegal, acknowledging farmers "deserve a fair price for their goods."
President of NSW Farmers Xavier Martin said the crack-down is well overdue but warns more needs to be done to rein in the supermarket giants.
"NSW Farmers has led the campaign for years to hold supermarkets accountable. All Australians pay more because of their behaviour.
"Even though the ACCC identified our supermarkets as the most profitable in the world, they were unable to join the dots to gouging, whilst farmers get a pittance and consumers pay record prices.
"Today the Treasurer announced moves to "deliver a better deal for farmers at the farm gate," but it shouldn't take an election to get politicians moving. It is critical that price gouging is clearly defined to prevent supermarkets wriggling off the hook.
"Strong penalties must be core to a strengthened competition framework.
"While it's encouraging to see politicians finally taking notice, addressing price gouging is just the beginning. We are also calling for improved transparency in the supply chain, structural reforms to change our competition landscape and divestiture powers to break up this oligopoly when they engage in anti-competitive behaviour.
"There's a burning need for commodity specific Codes of Conduct, for example, in the poultry sector to drive fairer outcomes for farmers.
"Farmers and the wider Australian public have had enough of Coles and Woolworths greedy behaviour," Mr Martin concluded.
