Government announces ACCC funding boost and planning changes to increase supermarket competition

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he will work with states and territories to bring reforms to supermarket planning and zoning regulations.

Transcript

00:00Today we're taking decisive action to help consumers get fairer prices at supermarkets,

00:07in stores and online.

00:10Misconduct in the supermarket sector is unfair, it's unacceptable and it makes cost of living

00:16pressures worse for Australians.

00:19So what we're announcing today is all about more resources for more investigation and

00:26more enforcement and more sites for competition.

00:30That's what this announcement is all about today.

00:34We don't want to see ordinary Australians and families and pensioners being taken for

00:38a ride by the supermarkets.

00:41And we're taking steps to make sure that they get a fairer go at the checkout.

00:47We know that the checkout is a big part of the cost of living pressures on Australians

00:54and it's a big focus for the Albanese Labor Government.

00:58So today we're announcing a $30 million package which will support the ACCC crackdown on misleading

01:06pricing practices and poor conduct.

01:09We're supporting more investigations, more enforcement in the supermarket and retail

01:15sectors which will empower the ACCC.

01:19It'll allow it to monitor behaviour and investigate concerns about supermarkets and retailers

01:25falsely justifying higher prices.

01:28In addition to this crackdown, I'll also work closely with states and territories to progress

01:35reform of planning and zoning regulations as fast as possible so that we can boost competition

01:42in the supermarket sector by opening up more sites for new stores.

01:47So this is all about more resources for more investigation and more enforcement and more

01:54sites for potential competitors to the big supermarkets.

01:58We want to make sure that people are getting a fair go at the checkout and that's what

02:03this is all about today.