The ACCC’s confirmation of the inadequacy of the voluntary Grocery Code of Conduct (GCC) shows the government needs to step in and make the code mandatory, Australian Greens Small Business and Competition spokesperson Senator Nick McKim says.
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ACCC Chairman Rod Sims says suppliers are already reporting that the big supermarkets are not negotiating their contracts with their suppliers in good faith.
Senator McKim said the result was entirely predictable.
“Unfortunately for their suppliers, the big supermarkets are continuing to abuse their dominant market position,” Senator McKim said.
“The Greens are the only party with a policy of a mandatory code of conduct, which would give the ACCC the necessary power to enforce good faith negotiations between retailers and suppliers.”
“This presents a clear test for new Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Small Business Kelly O’Dwyer – will she step in to protect suppliers and consumers? Or will she allow Coles and Woolworths to continue to strong arm everyone who gets in their way?”
Senator McKim said the Greens would seek to work with the government to make Australia’s competition policy as tough as it needs to be.
“The Greens are always prepared to stand up for Australia’s primary producers and suppliers to help create a more level playing field,” Senator McKim said.
Sixty two “critical incident reviews” over three years by NSW Police into deaths and serious injury during police operations have produced not a single instance of police disciplinary action and only two adverse findings.
The information, that has been obtained by the Greens in the NSW Parliament, strengthens the case to end the practice of police investigating police in the country’s largest police force.
Critical incidents are those cases where serious injury or death is caused to a civilian or a police officer in the course of a police operation.
Police can also declare other incidents as “critical incidents” if it is determined there is public interest in such a declaration. In all cases the primary investigation is undertaken by the police themselves.
The answers to questions in Parliament show that from January 1, 2013 to August 24, 2015 a total of 62 critical incidents involving NSW Police only two adverse findings were made, and there were no disciplinary actions at all against involved officers. In February this year a NSW Upper House Committee called for the establishment of a single, well resourced and independent police oversight body. A further report on police oversight by former Liberal shadow AG Andrew Tink delivered to government in August is yet to be released.
Source: Greens Media release.
