- Premier Steven Miles has announced the Government has accepted all recommendations of the Supermarket Pricing Select Committee
- An interim Food Farmers Commissioner will be appointed, with expressions of interest open from today
- Government will also work with industry to launch retail and farmgate price reporting, so Queenslanders can see what costs the big supermarkets are adding to essential goods
The Miles Government has accepted all recommendations of the Supermarket Pricing Select Committee report.
The inquiry examined the causes and effects of increased supermarket prices, after Queenslander farmers and shoppers said they're being ripped off at the farmgate and checkout.
The select committee also identified opportunities to increase transparency in the supermarket sector from paddock to plate.
Public hearings conducted in Bundaberg, Cairns and Brisbane, a private hearing in Brisbane, and engagement with community leaders in Yarrabah also informed the inquiry.
One of the key measures outlined in the government's response to the inquiry includes the appointment of an Interim Queensland Food Farmers Commissioner for 12 months, with expressions of interest open from today.
The Interim Commissioner will assist producers to navigate supplier arrangements with supermarkets, and scope a range of consultative, advisory, mediation, transparency and advocacy functions.
The new role will be a statutory officer and locked into law.
This is in addition to supporting farmers by rolling out the 'Geared Up Growers' pilot project, in partnership with Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers. This includes launching retail and farmgate price reporting on a range of essential goods.
At the retail end, it is clear we need to level the playing field. This includes lowering barriers for little retailers through planning rules.
We will crack down on land banking, capping the amount of times that the big supermarkets can roll over approvals without action. And we will make clear there is a state interest in grocery competition so we can call in applications and accelerate new supermarkets. In addition, the Office of Fair Trading will roll out consumer education campaigns to enhance Queenslanders' awareness about the value of unit pricing, consumer rights and the benefits of buying imperfect or non-premium produce.
Other measures that respond to the committee's recommendations include:
· Enhanced delivery of subsidised freight services across the state through three separate regional assistance packages,
· Ongoing roll out of major transport infrastructure commitments to support regional and remotes supply chains,
· Funding for EastAusMilk to develop a Queensland Dairy Industry Plan in consultation with industry stakeholders, and
· Further examination into the competition impacts of the expanding click and collect and home delivery service market, subject to the findings of the ACCC'sSupermarkets Inquiry 2024-25.
The Miles Government has also committed to continuing regional freight subsidies, planning reforms to enable greater competition and consumer awareness activities.
