Woolies, Coles in regulatory quagmire as PM orders ninth review of supermarket sector
The ACCC's probe into supermarket pricing is the latest in the long list of reviews into the sector. And it's not clear whether any will lower grocery bills.
The Albanese government's move to order the competition regulator to conduct a 12 month review into grocery prices adds to the deluge of probes already underway into the supermarket sector.
And while economists have their doubts about whether the crackdown will have any impact on inflation, legal experts are also questioning whether regulators don't already have the tools in place for adequate oversight of the multi-billion dollar industry.
There are already five Federal level inquiries and reviews that indirectly or directly touch on the supermarket sector, from general cost of living and competition probes to supermarket price and grocery code reviews.
At the state level a further three inquiries have also been announced: one in Queensland, one in Victoria and another flagged for South Australia. On top of this, Prime Minister Albanese today announced a fresh review by the ACCC into the sector.
