ACCC case against Coles
The Greens have welcomed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Federal Court action against Coles over alleged misleading "specials" and pricing conduct.
Quotes attributable to Greens Leader Senator Larissa Waters:
"Another day, another big corporation ripping off ordinary people.
"Big supermarkets are using con 'discounts' to rip off shoppers already feeling cost-of-living pain like never before. Labor can not shrug off this blatant corporate price gouging that is driving inflation and making the cost of living worse for everyone.
"Fake bargains and inflated shelf prices would explain Coles managing to squeeze $1 billion in profit out of ordinary people while they struggle to make ends meet.
"Labor must stand up to their big corporate donors who are making massive profits while everyone else struggles to get by.
"The Greens are proud to have led the charge on supermarket price gouging with our inquiry and divestiture Bill in the last parliament and we will continue to fight for a system that doesn't put profits before people and farmers."
Quotes attributable to Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim:
"The ACCC's action against Coles today confirms what people across Australia already know - when corporations have too much power, they use it to squeeze everyday people."
"These alleged illusory 'discounts' are one symptom of an economy where dominant firms can rort the system while households struggle with cost-of-living pressures."
"This case comes after the Greens-led Senate inquiry exposed how Coles and Woolworths use their market dominance to gouge prices and exploit customers.
"The ACCC itself has said competition is weak and that pricing behaviour needs scrutiny."
"We need laws that make price gouging illegal across the economy, not just in supermarkets, so corporations can't exploit times of financial pressure to hike prices with impunity.
"And we need divestiture powers so the ACCC and the Federal Court can break up firms that misuse their market power."
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