SENATOR DEAN SMITH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY
SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MEDIA RELEASE
24 June 2024
Mandatory Grocery Code go slow continues, despite Labor’s noise
You’d be forgiven for thinking Labor had actually delivered something new in today’s Food and Grocery Code announcement.
But, while confirmation a Mandatory Code will be adopted is a positive step against future anticompetitive supermarket behaviour, it should have been done months ago.
Even at the time of the Emerson Reports’ heavily delayed release in June this year, none of its recommendations – including the Mandatory Food and Grocery Code – presented fresh solutions to pressing competition challenges in the sector.
During these wasted months, with Labor choosing process over action, Australians have been left battling the Albanese Government’s dual cost of living and cost of doing business crises.
The reality is that suppliers and consumers alike have been left exposed on Labor’s watch, and they will continue to be until the legislation required to give Code penalties full effect is passed.
Disappointingly the Albanese Government has provided no timeline for when this will occur.
Whatever Treasurer Jim Chalmers or Assistant Competition Minister Andrew Leigh might say, there is no certainty of when this component, which will be critical to the effectiveness of the Code, might actually be delivered.
Until that happens, stakeholders from farmers to transport operators and, of course, millions of Australians at the check-out will remain on the hook – with no confidence about the ACCC’s capacity to protect their interests through the Code.
Quotes attributable to Senator Dean Smith, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury:
“Sadly, the bigger the announcement from Dr Chalmers and Dr Leigh, the less action we see.
“Today’s announcement is a welcome one, but it’s the beginning, rather than the end, of a process that Australian suppliers and consumers have expected – and needed – for months.”
“Labor is lagging hopelessly on competition reform, which has the power to transform the Australian economy, and households and businesses are paying a terrible price, including at the till.
“Now today’s announcement has finally been made, I call on Labor to provide a clear legislative timeline for when the Mandatory Code will be fully operational – with the power to impose fines.”
ENDS