The Nationals say Labor is not insisting supermarkets be more transparent about prices. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Coalition is launching a fresh attack on the Federal Government over the costs of groceries, saying Labor is letting shoppers down when it comes to transparency.
Nationals leader David Littleproud insists families will be forced to shop without supermarket transparency in 2026 because the government has failed to ensure large supermarkets enable “dynamic price information”.
He noted that the measure was a key recommendation of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) supermarket inquiry, designed to help families get the lowest prices available for their grocery items.
The ACCC had recommended the Federal Government require the largest supermarket chains, by turnover, to make application programming interfaces available that provide dynamic price information for third parties.
“The price of almost every grocery item has gone up during a cost-of-living crisis and families are hurting,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Many products have increased by 20 per cent, but wages haven’t gone up by 20 per cent.
“In fact, wages are back to 2011 levels, which means going to the supermarket is financially hurting families.”
The Food and Grocery Code of Conduct came into effect in April last year, introducing several reforms.
These include strengthened dispute resolution mechanisms and substantial penalties for breaches by the large supermarkets.
The mandatory code replaced the previous voluntary code, and aims to protect suppliers and farmers, as well as improve supermarket conduct.
The government also created an anonymous supplier and whistleblower complaints pathway through the ACCC.
But Mr Littleproud says Labor is letting shoppers down by not insisting supermarkets provide dynamic price information.
He said another concern for consumers was “shrinkflation”, causing the ACCC to recommend supermarkets be required to publish notifications when package sizes change.
That also remained to be implemented, the Nationals leader said, allowing supermarkets to continue with tricky pricing practices.
“These types of practices take advantage of consumers and should have been implemented by now, as it is almost 300 days since the price inquiry report,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Three years later, since the call to be tougher on the supermarkets, food prices have gone up and farmers are struggling with higher costs and lower margins. Consumers need these reforms to be able to ‘vote with their feet’.
“Labor’s broken promise is costing families at the checkout over the New Year season.”
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister for Competition Andrew Leigh is launching his year focusing on some specific unfair trading practices, particularly online.
Dr Leigh described 2026 as the year that trading practices such as subscription traps would be banned.
“As Australians make New Year’s resolutions, many will sign up for services designed to help build better habits,” he said.
“A gym membership to get moving. A meditation platform to stress less. A meal kit to eat more healthily. A language app to finally learn Italian.
“Resolutions and subscriptions can be life-changing. The problems are the traps that sometimes follow.
“A free trial that quietly rolls into a paid plan. A cancel button that is buried three screens deep. A requirement to phone during business hours to stop charges.
“What begins as a sensible resolution can end in frustration, with fees continuing long after enthusiasm has faded.”
Three out of four Australians with subscriptions say they have experienced problems cancelling.
The Federal Government is cracking down on subscription traps by strengthening Australian Consumer Law to reflect how people actually sign up and cancel services today.
The reforms target unfair subscription practices that exploit consumers, particularly arrangements where signing up is easy but cancelling is deliberately difficult.
“We’re considering reforms that require businesses to clearly disclose key subscription terms before sign-up, provide reminders before free trials convert to paid plans, and ensure that cancelling a subscription is at least as straightforward as joining,” Dr Leigh said.
“These changes are about restoring balance in markets that increasingly rely on recurring payments.
“Subscription services can offer convenience and value, but only when consumers remain in control.
“Markets work best when people can try a service, assess whether it suits them, and unsubscribe as easily as they subscribed.”
Consultation will shortly begin on draft legislation aimed at tackling these consumer traps.
“As Australians set goals for the year ahead, they should be free to focus on getting fitter, healthier or more skilled, rather than wrestling with cancellation processes,” Dr Leigh said.
“New habits should not lock people into unwanted payments. Banning subscription traps is about fairness, transparency and giving Australians a fair go.”
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
