2025-03-30
Campaigning today in the Greens’ target seat of Macnamara, the Australian Greens have said Greens pressure works after Labor adopted the Greens’ plan to make supermarket price-gouging illegal.
The move comes after Labor also adopted the Greens’ plan to triple the bulk-billing incentive for GPs, with the Greens saying a minority Parliament will see a number of other Greens policies implemented.
Last year the Greens introduced a bill to stop supermarket price gouging, which both Labor and the Liberals voted against in October. The Greens also announced a widely-reported election plan to make price-gouging illegal earlier this month.
The Greens have said if the Prime Minister is looking for some more homework to copy, he should get dental and mental health into Medicare, wipe all student debt, cap rent increases, and stop new coal and gas and native forest logging.
After returning from yesterday’s ‘Keep Dutton Out’ rally in Queensland, Greens Leader Adam Bandt will today be campaigning in the party’s target seat of Macnamara in inner-city Melbourne with candidate Sonya Semmens, Victorian Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May and Wills candidate Samantha Ratnam.
The Greens’ plan to make supermarket price gouging illegal has been incredibly popular in Wills and Macnamara, and the Greens will be doorknocking there today to say today’s announcement is proof the Greens get Labor to act.
The Greens came within 300 votes of winning the Macnamara at the 2022 election. Last election Macnamara saw a 5.5% swing to the Greens and the party has already knocked on more than 65,000 doors this campaign.
Macnamara has one of the highest proportions of renting households in the country. 51.5 per cent of households are rented and a further 24 per cent have a mortgage, which means 3 in 4 households in the electorate are being heavily impacted by the rental and housing crisis.
In addition to Macnamara, the Greens are targeting Wills (VIC), Richmond (NSW), Sturt (SA) and Perth (WA). The party is also seeking to return its four Lower House MPs and all its Senators who are up for re-election.
Quotes attributable to Greens Leader, Adam Bandt MP:
“Greens pressure works. After adopting most of our plan to see the GP for free, Labor has now followed the Greens’ plan to make supermarket price gouging illegal.
“The Greens get Labor to act. If Labor had voted for our bill last year shoppers would have cheaper groceries already, but this move is better late than never.
“The Greens are leading the way this election, and with a minority Parliament coming, we can keep Dutton out and get Labor to get dental and mental health into Medicare, wipe all student debt, cap rent increases, and stop new coal and gas.
“With more Greens MPs in Parliament, like Sonya Semmens in Macnamara and Samantha Ratnam in Wills, we can keep Dutton out and get Labor to act.
“This election, we can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result.
“Right now, one in three big corporations pays zero tax. We should tax big corporations and billionaires to fund dental into Medicare, cap rent increases and lower mortgages, bring back free GPs and take strong climate action.
“Last minority government the Greens got dental into Medicare for kids, and now we want to get it for everyone.
“If you want change, the first step is to vote for it.
Quotes attributable to Greens economic justice spokesperson, Senator Nick McKim:
"While Mr Albanese is browsing the Greens' website looking for policy ideas, he should also copy and paste our plan to get dental into Medicare and end native forest logging.
"Because the Greens don't take donations from the supermarket corporations, we have led the charge on taking on the duopoly.
"Our leadership and pressure has led to the Nationals and Liberals supporting supermarket divestiture and now Labor is backing our plan to make price gouging illegal."
Comment attributable to Greens candidate for Macnamara, Sonya Semmens:
“In Macnamara more than half the households are renting and they’ve been smashed by the cost of living crisis.
“This election, nothing changes unless your vote does.
“In a minority government, the Greens will keep Dutton out and get Labor to act on housing, cost of living and the climate crisis.”