Supermarket prices
Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (14:27): My question is to the Premier. This week a Four Corners report revealed shocking evidence of price gouging by the supermarket duopoly. It is clear that Coles and Woolworths are screwing over customers, they are screwing over Victorian farmers and they are screwing over their workers while they are making record profits. Will the Premier declare groceries a regulated industry to stop Victorians from being ripped off by the supermarkets?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:28): The member for Richmond has asked a question about competition policy that is a responsibility of the federal government. I refer the member for Richmond to the recent action taken by the federal government around working with the ACCC as well to have an inquiry into supermarket prices, and I refer any further statements that the member for Richmond may wish to make on this matter to the federal government.
Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (14:28): It is very clear that the Premier is saying that there is nothing that she can do in this area, but section 4 of the Essential Services Commission Act clearly states that it is the state government, not the federal government, that has the power to declare groceries a regulated industry, which would give the commission power to set fair prices. Don’t tell me that the Victorian Premier is going to do a Brad Banducci and walk away from struggling Victorians. Can the Premier –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Nationals! The member for Richmond will be heard without assistance.
Gabrielle DE VIETRI: Can the Premier name one thing that this government is going to do to take on the supermarket duopoly?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:30): Firstly, let me be clear that it would be wrong for the Greens political representative from Richmond to characterise my previous answer as saying there is nothing that can be done. We have a range of measures to support Victorians with the cost-of-living pressures they are experiencing, with free TAFE, free kinder, support for drivers licences. There is a very, very long list that I would draw the member’s attention to.
In terms of action with the supermarkets, I again remind the member for Richmond that she is welcome to make a submission to the work that the federal Labor government is leading on this matter as the appropriate body. If the member for Richmond is interested in real action, she will make a real effort to direct her real politicking to the right level of the real government that is taking real action on this matter.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Bentleigh can leave the chamber for an hour.
Member for Bentleigh withdrew from chamber.