Prime Minister Backs Tougher Action Against Major Supermarket Chains

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has backed the competition regulator’s lawsuit against Coles and Woolworths saying customers don’t deserve to be treated as “fools.” In an address on Sept. 23, Albanese said his government was determined to introduce legislation that would punish Aldi, Coles, Woolworths, and Metcash for serious breaches with multi-million-dollar penalties. He noted that the government’s review earlier this year made it clear that the existing voluntary code “has not been good enough.” “My government wants to ensure that Australian consumers get a fair go when families are doing it tough; they need a government that’s on their side,” Albanese told reporters....