Newsroom

October 22, 2024

KAP Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, has slammed supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths after hearing [i]reports that the ACCC are working to uncover the extent to which these retail giants have been overcharging customers through deceptive pricing tactics.

The ACCC's investigation into Coles and Woolworths focuses on allegations that customers were lured in with misleading pricing, paying more than advertised in some cases.

“Finally, after demanding action for over 15 years, the ACCC at least appears to be taking doing its’ job.”

However, Katter believes this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the damaging impact of these retail giants on both the economy and everyday Australians.

He backed calls for a class action of Coles and Woolworths customers "demanding action and compensation" where the shoppers could potentially claim up to $5000.

Mr Katter, a fierce advocate for the rights of farmers and consumers, expressed his anger over the situation.

"This is no surprise. We have been warning for years that these two major chains, who control almost 80 per cent of the grocery market, are holding the people of Australia to ransom. It’s about time the spotlight was turned on their anti-competitive, money-grabbing practices.

"The stranglehold these duopolies have on the market not only squeezes out the little guys—our independent grocers and local farmers—it also forces consumers to fork out more for their basic needs. This is outright theft from the pockets of hardworking Australians.

“We introduced our first Bill to break them up over ten years ago! Every year they’re raking in billions of dollars in profit, while Aussie farmers are driven to the wall, and shoppers are paying more for less. It’s time to break up these big boys by any means necessary.

“Thanks must go to Andrew Wilkie, Andrew Gee, and all the people across Australia who rose up in rage.

“With Andrew, I dressed as a pig to get the message across of the sheer greed of these retail giants.

“At this time, we introduced legislation to break up the giants, limit the mark-up on items and restrict other price-gouging and anti-competitive behaviours. ALP voted against, the Liberals ignored, and the Nationals hid.

“There is a message there – please people, do not vote for the major party system. We have been fighting Coles and Woolworths the whole way and we have hit a nerve. Every time we raised this issue, the ALP/LNP Government went running for cover and called another Inquiry.

“But as Churchill said, when you absolutely must not do it, then you have of course and Inquiry, the more wide the terms of reference, the less likely it is to hit the target.

“There must be real consequences for these actions. Enough with the wrist slaps. If it’s proven that they’ve misled the public on prices, they should be made to pay back every single cent,” Katter concluded.