Thursday, 22 February 2024

Supermarket prices

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:44): Honey, $5.70; dishwashing tabs, $13.50; eggs, $5.60; instant coffee, $11.50; a block of cheese, $13.90; Vegemite, $9.40; toilet paper, $8.60 – I could go on, but I think you all get the picture. These are the prices from one average bag of shopping. The total came to $138.10 for one bag of basic items – not enough to feed a family or even a couple for a week, but just a bunch of everyday items that cost an extraordinary amount. Coles and Woolies are charging us all too much. Grocery price rises are out of control. They have got the market stitched up, and they are doing everything that they can to maximise their profits while so many in our community are struggling to make ends meet. We need to rein in Coles and Woolworths. They are making billions of dollars of profit off the backs of everyday Victorians. It is not acceptable that people in our state cannot afford food or are having to choose between buying groceries and paying their rent. The Labor government needs to step up and stop Coles and Woolies from ripping people off.