Queensland Premier Steven Miles to grill supermarket bosses over food costs
Queensland Premier Steven Miles will today grill Australia's supermarket bosses over rising food prices.
He says he will be demanding answers about why farmers and growers are getting less for their produce and stock, while Queenslanders continue to pay record-high prices at the checkout.
"I'll be asking them to explain to me that difference between the reduction we've seen in the prices that farmers are getting for their produce, whereas the price of the food that Queenslanders buy to feed their families has not gone down nearly as much," Miles told 9News.
READ MORE: How much it really costs to educate your child in Australia
Queensland Premier Steven Miles will today grill supermarket bosses about food prices. Reddit
The Premier says he has seen the explanation by supermarket chains about higher food prices, but wants to quiz bosses in detail about them.
"I want them to know that Queenslanders are looking very closely at their behaviour now," he said.
Miles also said the feedback he is getting from families is that many of them are turning to processed fast foods because they can no longer afford to shop for healthier foods at supermarkets.
His intervention comes after the the Albanese government announced earlier this month an independent inquiry headed by former Labor cabinet minister Craig Emerson will review the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct.
The code regulates how Aldi, Coles, Woolworths and IGA operator Metcash deal with suppliers and customers.
READ MORE: Princess Kate hospitalised after surgery, King Charles to undergo separate treatment
Farmers are concerned major supermarkets are charging shoppers far more than what they are being paid for produce.. (Photo: Natalie Grono) Nine
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government is also working with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACC) to crack down on what he described as 'an abuse of power'.
A Senate inquiry will investigate the power and practices of giants like Coles and Woolworths.
All the major supermarkets have denied that they are price gouging.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
Most viewed in Australia
Unpopular policies could be what’s needed to stop ‘blunt’ rate rises
Dan Anstey to co-host Weekend Today, join Today team as weather presenter
Warning months left for inflation battle ahead of forecast rates rise
A $130 million change was meant to hit your supermarket shelves. Then the government backflipped