Emerson to lead review into Food and Grocery Code of Conduct

Craig Emerson will lead the 2023-24 review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct.Dr Emerson was the Federal Minister for Small Business from 2007-2010, Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs from 2009-2010 and Minister for Trade from 2010-2013.

National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke welcomed the appointment of a chair to take the review forward.

“The code is failing farmers and we’ve said for a long time it should be made mandatory,” Mr Jochinke said.

“We need to get to the bottom of why there’s a growing gap between what farmers get paid and what produce is being sold for on supermarket shelves.

“It’s not just supermarkets we need answers from, we need to know who else in the supply chain is clipping the ticket and sending food prices skywards.”

Mr Jochinke said there was still a long way to go to fix Australia’s competition issues.

“While reviews and inquiries are all well and good, we don’t want the Government to be distracted from pursuing immediate reform to competition laws more broadly – for instance looking at unfair trading practices or merger laws that have led to these competition issues in the first place,” he said.

“Farmers told us loud and clear in the National Farmer Priorities Survey, competition is the biggest issue keeping them up at night.

“Farmers need to understand how the price they are paid is determined, as should consumers.

“There are so many unknowns in farming, but pricing doesn’t have to be one of them.”

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said farmers deserve a fair price for their hard work and that some of the prices supermarkets are charging just don’t pass the pub test.

Meanwhile, a Senate inquiry into supermarket prices, chaired by Green senator Nick McKim, is also underway, with submissions closing on February 2.