2025-04-10
The Greens have unveiled a plan to lure Aldi to Tasmania and boost supermarket competition, bringing down grocery prices for struggling households.
Tasmanians are being gouged at the checkout, paying significantly more for groceries than people in other states, in part because they don’t have access to a discount supermarket like Aldi.
The Greens will provide up to $30 million to the Tasmanian Government to help discount retailers establish in the state, breaking the supermarket duopoly and cutting grocery bills. The funding would come from making big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share of tax.
“Coles and Woolworths have had it too good for too long, and Tasmanians are paying the price,” Greens Economic Justice spokesperson and Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said.
"A lack of competition means shoppers here are paying at least $15 more on a basket of essential groceries compared to Aldi, which adds up to hundreds of dollars a year."
“The Greens will take on the supermarket giants, lure Aldi to Tasmania, and give people a genuine alternative to price-gouging corporate monopolies.”
The plan is part of the Greens’ broader push to break up the supermarket duopoly and end price gouging, which includes:
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New laws to make price gouging illegal and stop corporations from charging excessive prices
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Divestiture powers to break up corporate monopolies like Coles and Woolworths.
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A Prices Commission to crack down on corporate profiteering, empower consumers and hold big supermarkets accountable.
The Greens’ Tasmania-specific plan will use revenue raised by making big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share of tax to provide:
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$2 million for a supermarket competition review to identify the barriers stopping discount supermarkets from entering the state and recommend ways to encourage smaller competitors.
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Up to $28 million to support the establishment of new entrants to the supermarket sector, pending the recommendations of the review. This could include supporting distribution centres, improving supply chains, and making government land available on a competitive basis to supermarket retailers.
“Labor is letting the supermarket duopoly run rampant, while the Liberals are missing in action. The Greens are the only party willing to take these big corporations on,” Senator McKim said.
“Shoppers are being ripped off, farmers are getting a raw deal, and workers are underpaid – all while Coles and Woolworths rake in over a billion each in profits.”
“The Greens will force real competition into the Tasmanian market and make groceries affordable again.”