Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised to make supermarket price gouging illegal. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A reelected Labor government will outlaw supermarket price gouging, with Anthony Albanese promising action by the end of the year.
The Prime Minister chose the electorate of Canberra to launch Labor’s first big policy of the federal election campaign, and said some supermarkets were “taking the piss” by price gouging consumers.
The government will implement the recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s supermarket inquiry that aim to improve transparency about prices, price trends and promotions, and loyalty programs.
It will also set up a taskforce to consider the laws operating in some other jurisdictions, mostly Europe, regarding price gouging.
The taskforce will report back to the government within six months with an action plan.
“Price gouging is when supermarkets are taking the piss of Australian consumers. That’s what price gouging is,” the PM said.
“Everyone else out there knows. Consumers know. We’ll take action.”
Mr Albanese stressed that the action was all about holding big business to account and was not targeting staff working behind the checkout.
“Those workers are facing the same pressures as every Australian, are just doing their jobs, and deserve safety and respect,” he said.
The news will, at a minimum, look to impose heavy fines on supermarkets found to be price gouging.
“Labor is determined for Australians to get a better deal at the checkout,” the Prime Minister said.
“A reelected Albanese Labor Government will crack down on price gouging by supermarkets because Australian families deserve fair prices for their groceries.
“Australians shouldn’t be treated like mugs at the checkout – that’s why Labor will make supermarket price gouging illegal.”
The announcement comes as Labor enjoys a bounce in the polls, which suggests that a return to majority government is not out of the question.
Pollster YouGov, which just a few weeks ago had Labor behind, released its latest research showing the government to be in a far stronger position.
It found that if an election were held today, Labor would win a median estimate of 75 seats in the next parliament – one short of the 76 needed for a majority.
The upper estimate of the polling research places Labor with 80 seats.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the PM has been as weak as water on the issue of price gouging. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Coalition has dropped to a median estimate of 60 seats, with an upper estimate of 68.
Peter Dutton was asked to comment on the Prime Minister’s reference to price gouging as “taking the piss” and used some clever language himself.
“I would say that the Prime Minister is as weak as … water,” the Opposition Leader said.
“I really would.”
Meanwhile, Mr Dutton used the weekend to flag three potential referendums – one on Indigenous recognition in the Constitution, another on four-year parliamentary terms, and another on cancelling the citizenships of dual citizens.
Before the weekend was over, however, he was backtracking somewhat, saying, when asked about it, that they were not high on his agenda and that legislative options were preferred.
On Indigenous recognition, he said, a referendum would only proceed if there was bipartisan support.
“There will be no referendum until there’s a position of bipartisanship, and clearly there’s no bipartisanship on this issue, and there will be no referendum over the course of the next term of parliament,” he said.
“The Prime Minister has made that very clear.”
Back on price gouging, and Greens leader Adam Bandt is taking credit for the government’s promise to get tough on supermarkets.
Campaigning in Melbourne, Mr Bandt said Labor has given into pressure from his party over the issue.
“Labor has picked up the Greens’ policy to make supermarket price gouging illegal, and that’s great news for Australian shoppers,” Mr Bandt said.
“Labor copying the Greens’ homework — you love to see it. Greens’ pressure works.
“The Prime Minister has gone shopping in the policy supermarket and picked up the Greens’ plan to make supermarket price gouging illegal.
“That’s a great deal for Australian shoppers, and while he’s there he could also put in the trolley the Greens’ plan to get dental into Medicare and to cap rent increases as well.”
