How can we fix ridiculous groceries prices? North Shore politicians weigh in.

With the rising cost-of-living impacting everything from petrol prices to insurance, perhaps the most obvious impact felt by regular residents on Sydney’s north shore is the increasing price of groceries – and the lack of alternative shopping options to the dominant supermarket chains of Coles and Woolworths.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been investigating the country’s supermarket industry, looking into price hikes, price-setting practices, profit margins and retail competition. In February, ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the Commission would focus on fostering fair trading practices, particularly when it comes to pricing strategies and deceptive surcharging.

But groceries costing a mint isn’t news for most Australians. In fact, it feels like it's been that way for years.

And with that in mind, we at the North Shore Lorikeet have one question: With an election on the way, what are the North Shore’s political representatives pledging to do about it?

Labor candidate for Bradfield, Louise MacCallum

Labor’s candidate for Bradfield, Louise MacCallum, said the government is committed to “fairer prices at the check out”, referencing already rolled out cost-of-living policies like Labor’s tax cuts, energy bill relief, and changes to student debt.

“We’ve taken decisive action [towards the supermarkets] through funding the ACCC,” said MacCallum, “with around $30 million to conduct more investigations and enforcement in the supermarket and retail sectors.

“We’ve also made the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct mandatory, which addresses the power imbalance between suppliers and farmers against the supermarkets, and ensures that prices reflect the real cost of goods rather than being inflated by supermarket chains. We’re focused on strengthening competition and accountability.”

Independent candidate for Bradfield, Nicolette Boele

Independent candidate for Bradfield Nicolette Boele told us that she is “determined to bring down supermarket prices by encouraging smaller grocery retailers into the market, stopping land banking by existing players, and making price gouging illegal.”

Just like in banking, she argued for the need for a Royal Commission.

“We need a Royal Commission into supermarket power to uncover the full extent of anti-competitive behaviour by Coles and Woolies,” said Boele. “We need to properly resource the ACCC to investigate allegations Coles and Woolies mislead on pricing and overstate sale prices.”

The Coalition policy

Liberal candidates and leaders on the North Shore (like candidate for Bradfield Gisele Kapterian and Berowra MP Julian Leeser) did not respond to the Lorikeet’s request for comment.

However, the Coalition currently has an election pledge that commits to "tougher civil penalties" for supermarkets that contravene a mandatory Food and Grocery Code, as well as the introduction of a Supermarket Commissioner to ask as enforcer and confidential avenue for farmers and suppliers. If elected, the Coalition would introduce sector-specific divestiture powers to manage supermarket behaviour and address price-gouging.

Tina Brown, Independent candidate for Berowra

Independent for Berowra Tina Brown said families are finding it “harder than ever” to get by. “That’s not just a cost-of-living crisis,” said Brown, “it’s a failure of leadership.”

“We’re not just dealing with inflation; we’re being squeezed at the checkout by a price-gouging duopoly that puts record profits before people. Coles and Woolworths control over 65 percent of the grocery market, setting prices while families, small businesses, and farmers pay the price. That’s not a free market, it’s a rigged system where the rich get richer, and the major parties are too afraid to fix it.”

“That’s why I will push for a mandatory supermarket code of conduct with real penalties, stronger ACCC powers to investigate and fine supermarkets for price manipulation, and the creation of an independent supermarket commissioner to keep them in check. And if Coles and Woolworths continue to abuse their market power, we need to go further, giving the ACCC divestiture powers to break them up if necessary.”

Zali Steggall, Independent MP for Warringah

Independent MP for Warringah Zali Steggall said she would back policy that supported “greater competition within the category as well as stronger ACCC oversight, particularly around pricing practices.”

What about the independent supermarkets?

Speaking to the North Shore Lorikeet, president of QE Food Stores Narinder Singh said the hardest part of running an independent supermarket and competing with the big supermarket giants is the red tape.

“We don’t have long supply chains where from the farm to the shop, it takes weeks and months to get the same food on the shelf. The produce you see outside was bought this morning.”

“The small businesses are the backbone of the Australian economy. Independents generally care more about local communities and care more about fresh food.”

Thumbnail image credit: Getty images (left), Michael Walter (right)