MEDIA RELEASE
29/11/23
STATE INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE FOOD AFFORDABILITY AND SUPERMARKET PRICE GOUGING
A Victorian Greens’ motion calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the rising cost of groceries and dodgy supermarket price gouging has passed the Upper House.
The Greens say the inquiry will help look into the reasons why food is so expensive in Victoria and increase pressure on the state government to intervene.
Right now, people are struggling to afford food because profiteering supermarkets are jacking up their prices.
They’re being forced to skip meals, to go without fresh food, and to raid their savings or go into debt just to pay for the essentials.
Yet while everyday Victorians struggle to feed themselves and their families, the supermarket duopoly of Coles and Woolworths are making billions in profit.
Victorian Greens economic justice spokesperson, Sam Hibbins, said the Greens had recently conducted a supermarket blitz weekend of action, which saw countless people back calls for the government to end dodgy price gouging.
The Greens’ own petition calling for action has also amassed over 4,000 signatures.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens economic justice spokesperson, Sam Hibbins MP:
“Right now people are struggling to afford food because profiteering supermarkets are unfairly jacking up their prices.
“They’re being forced to skip meals, to go without fresh food, and to raid their savings or go into debt just to pay for the essentials.
“While everyday Victorians struggle to feed themselves and their families, the supermarket duopoly – Coles and Woolworths – are making billions in profit. They’re increasing their profit margins and making Victorians pay more than they need to.
“The Greens are pushing the government to take on the supermarket duopoly to cut the cost of food for everyone.”
