Select Committee on Grocery Pricing in South Australia

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.A. Simms:

That the report of the select committee be noted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (17:10): I rise today to speak briefly in support of the report of the Select Committee on Grocery Pricing in South Australia.

It was a privilege to be on this select committee. I would like to thank the diligent committee Chairperson, the Hon. Robert Simms, for his excellent leadership and passion on this important issue.

I also want to thank my fellow committee members the Hon. Frank Pangallo, the Hon. Reggie Martin, the Hon. Mira El Dannawi and the Hon. Ben Hood for their valuable contributions. A special thank you, of course, to the hardworking committee secretary, Leslie Guy, and research officer, Dr Margaret Robinson, for their support and comprehensive work during the inquiry stage and in preparation of the final report.

With the current cost-of-living crisis impacting everyone in our community, it is perhaps no surprise that the committee found that there is a lack of transparency around grocery pricing in South Australia and that this is a factor contributing to the high prices which are placing increased pressure on South Australian families.

The committee also found that there is a significant power imbalance between big retailers and primary producers and that a lack of competition is contributing to higher grocery prices, particularly in regional areas.

I thank all the witnesses who took time to share their knowledge and experience by presenting themselves before the committee. The submissions that the committee received from all the stakeholders and businesses have provided important findings to enable members to work collaboratively in coming up with a set of sensible recommendations that are tabled in this report.

A number of site visits were conducted. It was an insightful site visit to the Woolworths Distribution Centre and Foodbank Food Hub in Mount Gambier. I thank all the management team and volunteers of those organisations who hosted our visit and for spending valuable time with the committee to discuss the significant cost-of-living issues facing metropolitan and regional community members.

I encourage all members to read the report and recommendations of the committee, and I urge the government to seriously consider all the recommendations, particularly the consideration of additional cost-of-living relief, additional support to charities and support agencies that provide access to low-cost food, and the potential for a payroll tax exemption for fresh produce businesses and primary production food businesses to reduce costs to industry and encourage competition.

With those remarks, I commend the report.