Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

As someone who spent over 10 years working in the grocery industry, in fast-moving consumer goods, before coming to this place, one of many things that I'm passionate about is making sure that the supermarkets look after their suppliers and the Australian people.

But let us be absolutely clear. This code of conduct will not reduce prices at the supermarket at all. This code of conduct is about ensuring that Woolworths and Coles treat their suppliers and farmers with the respect they deserve given the market size that they have. That is an absolutely crucial and important endeavour. But for the government to wrap that up as a cost-of-living measure to reduce prices shows two things: they're either misleading the Australian people, or they're ignorant and they don't understand how the supermarket and grocery chains and the mandatory code actually work. That's a question that the Prime Minister should answer, because the mandatory code will not bring prices down.

When I look at this motion from the member for Hawke, I must say that it does bring out the best in the hypocrisy of the Albanese Labor government. I want to go to point (2). It say:

… notes the Government believes that alleged misconduct in the supermarket sector is unfair, unacceptable, and it makes cost of living pressures worse for Australians …

They are prepared, as a government, to put a motion in this House about conduct that is before the courts at the moment with the ACCC. They're prepared to talk about that in a motion. But, whenever a government minister—whether it's the Prime Minister, the Treasurer or others in this government—is asked about Cbus and its disgraceful conduct in not paying out insurance payments and death payments for people who have died, to their loved ones, including members of my community, they say, 'No, we can't talk about that, because it is before ASIC.' This is the hypocrisy of the Albanese Labor government and the Treasurer. He will palm off innocent Australians who won't get the money that they are entitled to because a loved one has died. And the reason he doesn't want to talk about it is that his mentor, the former treasurer of this country and now National President of the ALP, is the Cbus chair. Shame on the ALP and the Australian government.

They are not prepared to stand up for the Australian people, for the members of Cbus who have lost loved ones and can't get their money. They say they can't talk about that because it is before ASIC. Yet, at the very same time, they are prepared to bring a motion to the House to discuss the allegations against Woolworths and Coles that are currently before the ACCC. Woolworths and Coles are literally testifying to the ACCC. So we can talk about that in a motion in this House, but they won't answer questions about the misconduct of Cbus, the alleged misconduct of the National President of the ALP—talk about the hypocrisy of the Albanese Labor government.

They will say one thing in here and they will spin a line, but they won't stand up for the Australian people when it involves their friends.

Mr Katter interjecting—

So let's talk about Woolworths and Coles. I'll get on to Woolworths and Coles—very happy to. That's enough time, member for Kennedy; I've spoken about it a lot.

I want to talk about the Melbourne wholesale market. The Victorian Labor government are increasing the rents by six to 7.6 per cent per year at the fresh fruit markets in Epping in Victoria. This decision is going to drive prices up. It is going to cause farmers to suffer and have to pay more, and it's actually going to send more market share to Woolworths and Coles, because Woolworths and Coles do not need to go to the markets to buy their fruit and vegetables. Hospitality venues do. Independent supermarkets do. Independent fruit and grocery stores in my electorate and across the country rely on the Melbourne wholesale market to get their products and be competitive at a price level against Woolworths and Coles.

The Victorian Labor government, with not a word from the Albanese Labor government, are increasing prices by over six to seven per cent for the next decade. It is going to increase the market share of Woolworths and Coles. It is going to drive the price of fruit and vegetables up for Australian people. It is another example of Labor at a federal level and a state level moving motions and talking spin but not actually solving the challenges of the Australian people.

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