Today Senator Kate Lundy and Peter Conway, ACT Labor’s second Senate candidate, launched a price watch into the price of groceries in the ACT.
The local price watch will track the prices of basic food items such as milk, bread, bananas, eggs and meat over the coming weeks to keep a close watch on grocery prices at our major supermarkets.
“The fact is that balancing the household budget is getting harder and harder – with grocery bills, child care, petrol prices and housing. The costs of basic household goods ought to be closely monitored.” Peter Conway said.
“When the price of fruit jumps by over 8% and vegetables increased by 6% over the past quarter, it shows that families in Canberra, and across Australia, are under increasing financial pressure”, Senator Lundy said.
“Federal Labor understands the financial pressures on Australian families. That’s why Kevin Rudd has announced plans that would see the consumer price watchdog monitor grocery prices for the first time” Senator Lundy added.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) already monitors the price of other household costs such as petrol, utilities and bank fees.
Under Kevin Rudd’s plan a Federal Labor Government will:
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Strengthen the role of the ACCC to monitor supermarket prices to make sure that families are getting a fair deal; and |
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Direct the ACCC to conduct a National Grocery Pricing Inquiry to report to the Government within six months, taking submissions from individuals, consumer groups, retailers, businesses along the supply chain and other interested parties. |
The ACCC will also set up a dedicated website to publish this pricing snapshot. This act will serve to increase transparency in the market place and exert greater competitive pressure on the retail market.
Local grocery prices will be updated at the start of each week at http://www.katelundy.com.au, just click on the grocery price watch links.
Contact: Rachel Allen – 0418 488 295 or Peter Conway – 0418 627 501
