Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

The ACCC is the appropriate body to look at these questions. The allegations go to the issues of the auctioning-off of shelf space with regard to excluding competitors, the arbitrary rescinding of contracts with suppliers mid term and a series of other matters which, if true, I would have thought are unconscionable conduct. The question remains as to whether or not the ACCC is of that view, and we will look forward to their advice after they have had a look at it. But the key issue here is to encourage manufacturers to come forward with these issues and to rely upon the confidentiality of the ACCC to investigate this matter, and we will provide all possible assistance for that to occur.