<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>341468</docID> <postdate>2025-03-30 14:02:36</postdate> <headline>Taking the proverbial: Albo’s swipe at big supermarkets</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-341469" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250330196151510093-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>A Canberra family shared their concerns over rising supermarket prices with Anthony Albanese. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Tess Ikonomou</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Anthony Albanese says supermarkets are "taking the piss" as Labor promises a ban on price-gouging if re-elected, despite the consumer watchdog finding no evidence it was taking place.</strong></p> <p>The prime minister started Sunday in the Labor-held seat of Canberra, visiting a family at their home in Downer.</p> <p>Meeting single mum Ren Knerr, her mother Filomena and her children Hawkins, 2, and Teilo, 11, Mr Albanese tucked into a spread put on by the Italian grandmother who said she baked and cooked far less than usual due to high food prices.</p> <p>"I'm trying to keep fit on the campaign and I'm breaking all my rules," the prime minister laughed.</p> <p>The family gifted him a pair of cavoodle-themed socks in a nod to his dog Toto.</p> <p>Labor has promised to make excessive supermarket pricing illegal, to fix what it has labelled a gap in the nation's competition and consumer protection framework.</p> <p>Laws are set to be introduced by the end of the year if the government is re-elected.</p> <p>"I got asked today... how do you know what's price gouging? Price gouging is when supermarkets are taking the piss (out of) Australian consumers," Mr Albanese told reporters.</p> <p>"I think there are absolutely examples where they have been... Australians know that."</p> <p>Laws to protect customers from companies engaging in the practice already exist in the UK, European Union and dozens of states in the US.</p> <p>Labor would first implement recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's supermarket inquiry report to improve transparency about prices, promotions and loyalty programs.</p> <p>A task force would be set up to advise on introducing an excessive-pricing regime for supermarkets to be policed by the consumer watchdog.</p> <p>The group would include Treasury, the ACCC and other experts who would consult and report to the federal government within six months.</p> <p>Opposition Leader Peter Dutton rejected the price gouging proposal, backing a coalition policy to divest major supermarkets.</p> <p>"It's just this continuous wet lettuce response from a weak prime minister, and Australians know that," he told Sydney radio station 2GB.</p> <p>"The prime minister is out there saying, 'oh, well, we'll set up the fifth committee in three years', and somehow that's going to make a difference."</p> <p>Coles and Woolworths have rejected claims of price-gouging, arguing their margins are comparable to their peers in countries including Canada, the UK and the US.</p> <p>The Australian Retailers Association said the comments were a distraction from the broader policies the community deserved during the election campaign.</p> <p>"Eight taxpayer funded inquiries have failed to find any evidence of supermarket price gouging," the association's Fleur Brown said.</p> <p>Nationals leader David Littleproud said the supermarkets didn't fear the "weak" prime minister, with Australian families to pay the price.</p> <p>With cost of living being the most pressing issue for voters, Labor is spruiking measures including cheaper medicines and proposed tax cuts.</p> <p>Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Labor was making sure Australians were not being treated like mugs.</p> <p>"We're delivering a better deal for families at the checkout and a better deal for farmers at the farm gate," he said.</p> <p>"Our plan helps deliver more competition, fairer prices and better deals for Australians."</p> </body>