PM should ban all new supermarkets: Greens

AAP
December 05, 2013

THE Australian Greens have called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to “muster the courage” to ban all new Coles and Woolworths supermarkets.

They also want the big supermarket chains banned from investing in agricultural land, and for the struggling Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s funding to be doubled.

Mr Abbott has written to the states and territories outlining his plan for the first independent review into national competition policy in 20 years.

But Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said the last thing Australia needs is another “talk-fest” on competition policy with no results.

For a review to be successful, he said, Mr Abbott would need to stop his “love-in” with big business and address the needs of farmers and small businesses.

“This government’s agenda has been hijacked by special interests,” Senator Whish-Wilson told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

Greens leader Christine Milne said the review’s test will be whether the government has got the courage to “rein in” the power of the big supermarkets

“I’ll be very keen to see that come through the parliament,” Senator Milne said.

The Greens also want to see the ACCC’s “war chest” doubled so they can pursue more cases, especially on shopper docket discounts for fuel.

The ACCC is running out of money and is set to post a loss in 2013/14.

The 12-member review council, chaired by businessman Maurice Newman, will meet three times a year, with the first meeting to be held this month.

The report will be produced within 12 months by a panel to be announced in coming months.