Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is backing calls for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Inquiry into fruit and vegetable prices to make supermarkets pay their fair share.
“While Coles and Woolworths made record profits of more than $1 billion each last year, the individuals and families living in our electorate of Dawson are struggling with rising grocery costs during a cost-of-living crisis,” Mr Willcox said.
“Over the past 18 months we have seen fuel prices increase, energy prices increase, and now we’re all paying more at the checkout while supermarkets are paying farmers less and it’s not good enough.
“Farmers are integral to Australia, they provide food and fibre to the entire nation, and as a third-generation farmer myself I know just how difficult it can be on our farming families.
“If something doesn’t happen soon, we run the risk of seeing farmers walking away entirely and food security in Australia plummet.”
In November last year Mr Willcox urged Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to launch an investigation into supermarket meat sale prices and the Dawson MP is now putting the pressure on them to expand that investigation to include fruits and vegetables.
“Something must be done, it’s now a matter of urgency,” Mr Willcox emphasised.
“After 100 days from their announcement for a review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, the Prime Minister has only just appointed someone to lead the review and it’s too little too late.
“A review isn’t going to go far enough.
“The ACCC has the expertise and the ability to do something about this issue, and the last thing we need are more politicians who don’t have the intricate understanding of market and pricing policies just sitting around asking questions.
“This is not only impacting family budgets in Dawson it is now starting to impact the health of families living here.
“We’re seeing reports of families bypass the fresh food section in their local supermarkets altogether and instead opt for cheaper, unhealthy pre-packaged meals.
“We are seeing Queenslanders hospitalised for diet deficiencies so severe that they’re leading to diseases such a scurvy and rickets, and if the cost of fruits and vegetables continue to rise this is only going to get worse.
“The Albanese Labor Government must act before it’s too late.
“We need to ensure there is an ACCC Inquiry into supermarket price gouging.
“The families and farmers in our electorate of Dawson deserve an urgent response and I am going to do everything I can to make sure that happens.”
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