THE Queensland Government has established Queensland’s first supermarket pricing select committee, chaired by Bundaberg MP Tom Smith.
The committee will examine causes and effects of increased supermarket prices and identify opportunities to increase transparency.
The committee was established following the Premier’s meetings with the heads of Australia’s big four supermarkets.
Agricultural industry advocates reported to the Premier that while supermarket prices are going up, especially for fresh produce, farmers are not seeing a profit increase at the farm gate.
The committee has been tasked to consider:
- rising grocery prices and discrepancies between retail, wholesale and farmgate prices;
- variability in supermarket offerings and pricing;
- long-term trends in profits accruing in the supply chain, with particular regard to impediments to the profitability of primary producers;
- conduct of retailers in negotiations with producers;
- improvements to the policy environment to increase transparency for producers.
The bipartisan committee will be given the ability to call for people and documents, to assist with their inquiry.
Steven Miles said the inquiry is the result of a commitment he made when he became Premier.
“In my first speech as Premier, I made a commitment to meet the big supermarkets to share the stories from families that the cost at the checkout was far too high and that farmers felt ripped off at the farmgate.”
“What those supermarket CEOs had to say simply wasn’t good enough, so I have moved to form this committee.”
“I’d like to encourage all Queenslanders with something to say to come forward. I am very much looking forward to seeing the committee’s report.”
The report is due to be tabled in the Queensland Parliament by Friday May 21, 2024.
