Bob Katter (Kennedy, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Kennedy from moving the following motion immediately—That this house

(1) notes that:

(a) The Coles and Woolworths oligopoly is having an appalling impact on farmers and consumers around Australia;

(b) The people of Australia are being overcharged punitively by the supermarket giants whilst the nation's farmers are being paid prices which are below cost of production and do not provide them a liveable income;

(c) Urgent action is required to level the playing field between the farmers and consumers on the one hand, and the supermarket giants on the other;

(d) The Member for Kennedy and Member for Clark introduced the 'Reducing Supermarket Dominance Bill 2024' this morning which divests supermarkets of this market power specifically by setting market power limits with associated timeframe, providing significant penalties and establishing an oversight body;

(e) The Senate's oversighting legislation does not in itself provide divestiture but leaves the onus of proof resting with another government authority. Such authorities have already proved to be ineffective; and

(2) Calls on the Parliament of Australia to: Bring on the Reducing Supermarket Dominance Bill 2024 for debate immediately, and it be given priority over all other business in order to stop any further delay in providing affordability to consumers and fairness to farmers.

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