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Independent MP Bob Katter has introduced his bill to reduce the market power of Australia’s major supermarket chains.
Under the policy proposal, the market power of major supermarkets would be lost by 20 percent over five years.
It would also create a food retail commissioner who would have powers to stop price gouging and other anti-competitive behavior.
Speaking in the lower house on Monday, Mr. Katter said rising grocery prices were “shameful” and pointed out that there have been 15 official investigations into supermarket prices in the past 30 years.
He held up a white potato and declared that the price paid to the farmer for the daily grocery item was between 40 and 50 cents, while the supermarket charged $4.50 per kg.
Independent MP Bob Katter has introduced his bill to reduce the market power of Australia’s major supermarket chains.
Under the policy proposal, the market power of large supermarkets would be lost by 20 percent over five years.
“Every time the problem arises, we do an investigation… but of course you don’t have the courage to do what needs to be done,” he said.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who backed the proposal, said it was “unconscionable” for supermarkets to make billions of dollars in profits while Australians resorted to searching through rubbish bins and skipping meals.
“What we need is an agency that can identify and eradicate irregularities without waiting for the government to say so,” he said.
Four separate reviews, including a pricing investigation by the competition watchdog, are being carried out into the conduct of supermarket chains.
The federal government appointed former Labor minister Craig Emerson to lead a review of the food and grocery code in January.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had previously said he was prepared to act but would wait until the results of the reviews were finalised.