A PUSH to protect Australian farmers from supermarket giants’ market power has gained momentum, with Federal Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell, voicing support for a new policy aimed at fairer treatment of food suppliers.
Speaking in Parliament, Birrell backed a Coalition proposal introducing tougher deterrents against market abuse, including higher fines and the possibility of asset divestiture for supermarkets that misuse their dominance. The proposed policy would also establish a supermarket commissioner, giving farmers an impartial advocate to handle grievances.
Emphasising the balance between affordable prices for consumers and sustainability for suppliers, Birrell highlighted the importance of this measure for agricultural hubs like the Goulburn Valley, which are major contributors to Australia’s food production.
“We do need the supermarkets. They provide a service, they provide a way for farmers to sell their produce, and they provide a service for Australian people to buy food,” said Mr Birrell.
“We need them to be profitable, but we need them to be fair and we need them to provide sustainability for their suppliers. We also need competition amongst supermarkets to make sure we get that balance we are looking for in this policy.
“I hope those divestiture powers are never used, but I also hope, and I believe, that the supermarkets will look at those enhanced powers, the higher fines and divestiture powers, and say, ‘We’d better not test this out because we don’t want to fall foul of what that might mean for us.'”
“The most important thing for Australian people is to have cheap, reliable and sustainably produced food, and I include business sustainability along with environmental sustainability in that. Policies that attack agriculture do not provide a sustainable supply chain for food in this country,” Birrell said.
