I WELCOME the Senate inquiry into supermarket pricing and practices, and acknowledge that action is needed to ensure farmers get a fair price for what they produce, and consumers do not make an unnecessary contribution to massive profits for our supermarket duopoly.
However, I would warn farmers and consumers not to get their hopes up in relation to any change.
In 2015, there was an extensive Senate inquiry into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, after the initial years of its implementation showed it was based on some flawed modelling, there were far greater impacts to the social and economic fabric of regional communities than had been envisaged, and there were unintended consequences which needed to be addressed.
The inquiry made more than 30 sensible recommendations which could have improved the Basin Plan for the benefit of the environment, food production, regional communities and the cost of food at our supermarkets.
Unfortunately, nearly a decade later, the inquiry’s report sits on a shelf gathering dust and successive governments have ignored recommendations which would have delivered a better Basin Plan for our nation, and better value for the $13 billion (which will end up being much more) taxpayer investment.
We need more than an inquiry to change bad practice. The key ingredient is governments that are willing to make tough decisions to implement improved policy following inquiry recommendations. This continues to be seriously lacking.
Stephen Ball
Mayrung, NSW
