Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has accused Coles and Woolworths of acting like a “cartel” and ripping off hardworking Australians in the run-up to Christmas.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has demanded supermarkets freeze the price of ham to give families some certainty before December 25.
It comes as Coles and Woolworths are about to face a parliamentary inquiry into whether they are driving up prices to achieve record profits amid cost-of-living pressures.
“Let's face it, they're like a bloody cartel,” Ms Lambie told Sky News.
'As much as I applaud the Greens for bringing forward a new inquiry into Coles and Woolies and supermarkets and how cartels work.
“I'm just saying to the government, what's stopping you from putting more people into the ACCC to do the job and give them the power they need to make sure they can do their job?
'What is the government actually holding back? Where is the Prime Minister?
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has accused Coles and Woolworths of behaving like a 'cartel' and ripping off hardworking Australians in the run-up to Christmas
Coles and Woolworths face a parliamentary inquiry into whether they are driving up prices to achieve record profits amid cost-of-living pressures
Ms Lambie slammed the Labor government for being “comatose” over the cost of living since the The Voice referendum failed in October, and called for more powers for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“They could have solved this and they could have solved this today, they could have done this before Christmas, but apparently the cost of living, when it comes to the government or the Labor Party, is not important,” she said.
'This is just stupidity on all fronts. Give the ACCC more people, get the powers it needs and let it do its bloody job.”
It comes as Senator Watt sent a stern warning to supermarkets in the run-up to Christmas not to 'take advantage of hardworking Australians'.
Supermarkets should freeze the price of ham as Christmas is a difficult time for those struggling with cost of living pressures, he said in a statement.
“It's time for the supermarkets to do their bit and say one thing we won't raise is the price of a Christmas ham,” he said.
Senator Watt said farmers also needed reassurance that they would get a fair price from supermarkets.
“For the average Australian, it makes no sense for the price to rise at the bottom of their roll while these companies are making huge profits,” he said.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has demanded that supermarkets freeze the price of ham to give families some certainty before December 25
“It's time for the supermarkets to do their part and say one thing we won't raise is the price of a Christmas ham,” Senator Watt said in a statement on Monday.
The Greens are seeking to investigate the impact of market concentration on food prices and the pattern of pricing strategies used by the supermarket duopoly.
Coles and Woolworths will be in the spotlight as the inquiry examines the rising costs of essential items, the validity of discounts offered and profit inflation.
Greens Senator Nick McKim said the big supermarkets had far too much power in Australia for too long.
“Coles and Woolworths are making billions in profits because they feel they can overcharge people without consequences (and) that needs to stop,” he said.
“We want the CEOs to justify their decisions in a public hearing.”
A Woolworths spokesperson said the company is committed to delivering value to customers while helping suppliers manage inflationary pressures across the economy.
“We know Australians are feeling the pressure of the cost of living and we are working to provide relief from their weekly grocery shop,” the spokesperson said.
The company also highlighted promotions on 150 holiday products that started in October, as well as a deal to reduce the price of half a leg of ham to $8 per kilo, the lowest price in nine years.
A Coles spokesman said inflation for its goods was easing, especially for basic products.
Supermarkets should freeze the price of ham as Christmas is a tough time for those struggling with cost of living pressures, Senator Murray Wattt has said.
'Having a profitable business means Coles can continue to serve Australians, invest in our stores, employ the 120,000 team members we employ, pay taxes in Australia, pay dividends to our hundreds of thousands of parent and father shareholders and guarantee long-term sustainable relationships with our suppliers,” the company said.
Tony Mahar, chief executive of the Nationals Farmers' Federation, said an investigation was urgently needed.
“Farmers are concerned that the prices they are getting are not being reflected on supermarket shelves,” he told Seven's Sunrise program on Monday.
'It would be very good to actually investigate who is in control in the supply chain, and if there is criticism, let's do something about it.'
Nationals leader David Littleproud said a parliamentary inquiry would take too long if action was needed now to tackle the cost of living.
He has urged the consumer watchdog to investigate price gouging
