Nationals Leader David Littleproud says under the new Coalition policy, announced moments ago, they will, if elected, institute a supermarket commissioner to have the power to split up the major supermarkets.
“What we want to do is make sure we go well beyond what this government has done in terms of facing up to the threat of supermarkets to consumers and farmers. They’ve been too weak to take them on,” Littleproud said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Nationals leader David Littleproud and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor (left to right) announcing the Coalition’s new policy today.Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald
“We’ll now institute a supermarket commissioner, and their role will be one that allows them to work with suppliers, farmers who feel aggrieved with the dealings they’ve had with supermarkets – to come forward and either conciliate that with farmers and the supermarkets openly.
“But where farmers fear retribution … then the supermarket commissioner can lift that and accelerate that through to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for further investigation and use Section 155 of the Consumer and Competition Act, which gives them the power to open up the books and investigate – not just the supermarkets, but [also] farmers involved in the supply chain.
“We’re also going to make sure we equip the ACCC with greater tools and penalties … making sure we’ve got an agile system to allow the ACCC to move quickly to give infringement notices.
“Where that can’t be achieved, then obviously the greater penalties – whether that be in 10 per cent of turnover or $10 million, or divestiture – will be determined by a law.”