Greens think tank proposes publicly owned supermarkets to challenge Coles-Woolworths 'duopoly'

The Greens' research institute has called for a publicly owned supermarket chain to challenge Coles and Woolworths.

The $25 billion pitch is inspired by a policy commitment by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Greens leader David Shoebridge says the chain could be a solution to rising food prices.

The Greens' official think tank has called for the forced sale of 200 Coles and Woolworths supermarkets to be converted into public grocers in a pitch to slash grocery bills by hundreds of dollars a month.

Almost everybody is concerned by rising food prices, according to a YouGov poll of 1,500 voters commissioned by The Green Institute.

Petrol, insurance, healthcare and housing prices were rated as concerns for nearly nine in ten people surveyed, but food and grocery bills were the key cost-of-living issue with 94 per cent rating it a concern.

Three in ten voters said their mental health had suffered due to the cost of food, and four in ten said their household's diet was less nutritious than it was a year ago, or that they had skipped meals or eaten less due to grocery costs.

The Green Institute's executive director Max Chandler-Mather said grocery prices have surged under a Coles and Woolworths "duopoly" raking in billions of dollars in profit.

According to the think tank's analysis of annual reports by the supermarket giants, Coles's supermarket earnings before tax had grown by 58 per cent since 2019, while Woolworths's had grown by 41 per cent.

Meanwhile, essential goods like cooking oils, eggs, beef and milk had risen by 45 per cent and wages had gone backwards.

Coles posted a $1.09 billion net profit for the most recent financial year, while Woolworths reported net profits of $1.14 billion.

A report by the competition watchdog last year found the pair had increased profits in recent years and had little incentive to compete on price.

It stopped short of calling those profits "excessive" and did not conclude that Coles and Woolworths held a duopoly.

Mr Chandler-Mather said a publicly owned grocer could force the supermarkets to be more competitive.

"For half the cost of a single AUKUS submarine we could establish a national network of publicly owned supermarkets that would save families thousands of dollars on their groceries," he said.

"It is abundantly clear that Coles and Woolworths are some of the most profitable supermarkets in the world, and what they have done over the last five to six years is take advantage of an inflation and cost of living crisis.

The think tank proposed a $25.1 billion investment over five years to establish 200 "Fair Go Grocers" by forcibly acquiring stores from Coles and Woolworths, as well as three distribution centres, and to construct another 424 stores and 10 distribution centres across the country.

Stores would be run effectively at cost and would be cost neutral to the budget after the first five years of investment.

The Green Institute said by avoiding the need to turn a profit the cost of essentials could be slashed by 30 per cent and grocery bills cut by hundreds of dollars a month.

"We thought the goal of Fair Go Grocers, our public supermarket, should be to reach 20 per cent of market share," Mr Chandler-Mather said.

"We think at that point that would allow Fair Go Grocers to function as an effective public competitor to drive down grocery and food prices

"We need a much larger public intervention if we are going to fix this issue."

Mr Chandler-Mather said anti-price gouging laws that began in July had done nothing to reduce grocery prices.

Greens leader David Shoebridge said the idea of a publicly-owned supermarket with cheaper food should be considered.

"When I talk to people I hear about the dread they feel heading down the supermarket aisle. The shopping trolley feels like pushing a boulder up to the check-out," Senator Shoebridge said.

"People want politics to be putting solutions on the table, not just saying it's all too hard.

"This is one of the solutions because it makes buying the essentials at the supermarket cheaper."

The Greens and Coalition both supported introducing divestiture powers last term that would allow the supermarket giants to be broken up if they were behaving uncompetitively.

Break-up powers were opposed by Labor, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing them as an idea from "the old Soviet Union".

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-06/green-institute-proposal-public-supermarkets-break-duopoly/107228700

LOL. Government run grocery stores.

What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA?

Interesting idea   :-/

I'll have to look into it more.

https://www.foodandwine.com/how-government-run-grocery-stores-work-11975917

Well - Albo is following communism so the Greens idea might stick.

Stalin made sure that at the end of a 2 hour wait in a Govt. bread line -
you'd get a loaf of bread to keep your family alive for another day.

freediver wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 7:46am:

LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA?

Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers..

Bobby. wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 8:52am:

Well - Albo is following communism so the Greens idea might stick. Stalin made sure that at the end of a 2 hour wait in a Govt. bread line - you'd get a loaf of bread to keep your family alive for another day.

Oh dear. How come no one criticises kibbutz ... because it's anti semitic ?

Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 10:43am:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 8:52am: Well - Albo is following communism so the Greens idea might stick. Stalin made sure that at the end of a 2 hour wait in a Govt. bread line - you'd get a loaf of bread to keep your family alive for another day. Oh dear. How come no one criticises kibbutz ... because it's anti semitic ?

Soup kitchens and bread lines are closer than we think.

Communism is here.

freediver wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 7:46am:

LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA?

The Greens' research institute ........is inspired by a policy commitment by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Communism never left. Australia's war sector is communistic. Everyone is taxed so everyone gets a pretend old clunker nuclear submarine .

Frank wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 12:28pm:

freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? The Greens' research institute ........is inspired by a policy commitment by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Communism wihh Muslim characteristics.

Tap with your halal, interest fee, government-issued social credit card.

Islamic socialism, is a political philosophy that synthesises Islamic teachings with socialist principles, arguing that concepts like zakat (obligatory almsgiving) and social justice are inherently compatible with economic equality and state-led welfare.


I don't understand why extremists from the far far right think Islamic socialism is an insult to Greens supporters.

Greens' Four Pillars.
Ecological sustainability, Grassroots participatory democracy, Social justice, and Peace and non-violence.

Советский продуктовый магазин

https://im2.kommersant.ru/Issues.photo/OGONIOK/archive/common/archive/2003/4824/45-32-35/45-33-3b.jpg

So the Grees want government, which is overseeing excessive spending and blaming interest rate rises on others is supposed to buy bricks and mortar stores, stock them, employ people, make a profit ... and all with no business knowledge.

Will the workers be public servants, as they are employed by government? 8-)

Soviets got played by America ... spent and spent, until Tallowood's USSR went bankrupt. Then he fled.

Socialism, over Communism/Capitalism

freediver wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 7:46am:

LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA?

Yes, but freediver, this would be a TAXPAYER subsidised food-mall chain.

So.....every time they made a miscalculation.......and made a loss [of any size].......the Australian TAXPAYER would be legally obligated to bail out this food-mall chain.

That is such a good idea !!!!

How could such a venture ever fail !!!?

Wow !!   I wish i had thought of it !

Maybe i too, should join The Australian Greens........if the Greens are able to come up with such wonderful, and equitable policies.....like this one !!
/sarc off


AN OBVIOUS QUESTION
If such a venture like this could work efficiently,
then why hasn't someone like Adolf Putin in Russia,
or [the late] Fidel Castro in Cuba.......
already embarrassed the Western world.....with such a socialist food-mall monopoly ?

Margaret Thatcher gives the appropriate answer  ------- >


.


"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
- Margaret Thatcher


"Socialism only works
In two places:
Heaven where they don't
Need it and hell where they already have it."
- Ronald Reagan


'The most terrifying words
In the English language are:
I'm from the government
And I'm here to help.'
- Ronald Reagan


'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.'
-Ronald Reagan


'The taxpayer:
That's someone who works
For the federal government
But doesn't have to take the
Civil service examination.'
- Ronald Reagan


'Government is like a baby:
An alimentary canal with a
Big appetite at one end and
No sense of responsibility
At the other'
- Ronald Reagan


'The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program.'
- Ronald Reagan


'Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
If it moves, tax it.
If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving,
Subsidize it'
- Ronald Reagan


If you want more of something, subsidize it; if you want less of something, tax it.
- Ronald Reagan

This should be a vote winner through rural/regional Australia.

Produce sold on to retailer for above production cost.

Less producers going bankrupt.

Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 3:19pm:

This should be a vote winner through rural/regional Australia. Produce sold on to retailer for above production cost. Less producers going bankrupt.

Ah, You mean the government will pay above the going rate for produce, sell it at a loss, and make a profit. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

No.

Stalin will rescue you -

wait in the bread line and outside the soup kitchens.

Then explain your thinking. It is generally the middleman that makes the most. The government would not be the middleman. Government cannot run business.
The Trade unions tried that through Bourke's. It failed. And we have the ACTU reps in government.

Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 10:41am:

freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers..

Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us.

After increasing competition in the food sector, I hope Greens aim is fully targeted at breaking open Australia's hyper-concentrated media landscape. Selling Fairfax to Nine Entertainment was a massive blunder by the Liberals.

freediver wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 6:24pm:

Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us.

Went to the butcher today -
I saw a piece of Porterhouse -
it was $56 per kilo.
The girl weighed it and it came to 377 grams which is  $21.15.

I said no - too much for one steak and I left without it.

I think what happened is that all their steaks are quite large so
if you want a piece there is nothing for under $10.

Even if she cut it in half it would have been 189 grams - not much steak -
and still over $10.

freediver wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 6:24pm:

Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us.

So, food prices aren't rising?   :-/

Food prices will continue to rise at above inflation levels.
Certainly with beef, all my local farmers say there's no money in it.
Dairy is possibly worse.

The only way to deliver profitable food is to make ultra processed carbs like white bread , biscuits, brekkie cereal, soft drinks, pizza, maccaroni cheese, fries, sausages,  caged eggs.

There's big profits in these.

And it's what the chodes fill their trolleys with.

It will eventually cost billions in increased health care.

The greens can't compete on the above cheap staple items.

They could promote fresh fruit and veges , meat fish and chicken.

But these are too expensive for the chodes.

I think the future is a drive to the bottom with less and less nutritious food and a transfer of costs to the health sector.

But Kellogg's , nestles, kraft, coca cola and indeed coles, Woolworths are major players in the pharmaceutical market and share a lot of board members at the corporate level.

They get to break the customers leg and then sell them a crutch

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 6^th, 2026 at 8:30pm:

freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 6:24pm: Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us. So, food prices aren't rising?   :-/

If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us.

They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash.

It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems.

freediver wrote on Oct 7^th, 2026 at 1:32pm:

If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems.

But that means if you have money in the Bank you are losing from inflation -

but and a big but -
you get taxed on the interest and the inflation cannot be offset.

Bobby. wrote on Oct 7^th, 2026 at 2:04pm:

freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 1:32pm: If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems. But that means if you have money in the Bank you are losing from inflation - but and a big but - you get taxed on the interest and the inflation cannot be offset.

If you have money in the bank that is earning less than the inflation rate, you are an idiot who deserves to lose their money.

freediver wrote on Oct 7^th, 2026 at 5:02pm:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 2:04pm: freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 1:32pm: If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems. But that means if you have money in the Bank you are losing from inflation - but and a big but - you get taxed on the interest and the inflation cannot be offset. If you have money in the bank that is earning less than the inflation rate, you are an idiot who deserves to lose their money.

What - so you put it on the sharemarket?
that has gone down too -
seems like we have millions of idiots in Australia - all losing their money.
I'm only one idiot.

freediver wrote on Oct 7^th, 2026 at 1:32pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 8:30pm: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 6:24pm: Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us. So, food prices aren't rising?   :-/ If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems.

Are food prices rising?

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 7^th, 2026 at 5:47pm:

freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 1:32pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 8:30pm: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 6:24pm: Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us. So, food prices aren't rising?   :-/ If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems. Are food prices rising?

Why do you keep asking? Do you expect me to keep track of grocery prices for you?

The Five Year Plan for reducing grocery costs to the People.... all we need is special stores for the elite to shop in... to GUM up the works...

Another attempt at controlled economy... has about as much chance of success as Stalin's ideas.

Greens can say anything they like - with their one or two seats in the end they can do nothing unless the parliment is hung and they somehow get a deciding vote.

Remain relevant!  Find a Farce to Feed the Foolish!

The very last thing we need is government run  supermarkets.

They will be open ten years late and everything will cost a billion dollars more than what they budgeted for 

freediver wrote on Oct 7^th, 2026 at 7:27pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 5:47pm: freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 1:32pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 8:30pm: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 6:24pm: Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us. So, food prices aren't rising?   :-/ If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems. Are food prices rising? Why do you keep asking? Do you expect me to keep track of grocery prices for you?

You accused the Greens of inventing a problem.

They say the problem is rising food prices.

Food prices are rising.

Thus, they didn't invent a problem - the problem is real and is already happening.

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 8^th, 2026 at 9:37am:

freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 7:27pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 5:47pm: freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 1:32pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 8:30pm: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 6:24pm: Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us. So, food prices aren't rising?   :-/ If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems. Are food prices rising? Why do you keep asking? Do you expect me to keep track of grocery prices for you? You accused the Greens of inventing a problem. They say the problem is rising food prices. Food prices are rising. Thus, they didn't invent a problem - the problem is real and is already happening.

If the problem is real, why do you keep asking me if it is real, and ignoring my suggestions that rising prices are not a problem? And finally, what makes you think government-run supermarkets will magically fix anything?

freediver wrote on Oct 8^th, 2026 at 9:40am:

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 8th, 2026 at 9:37am: freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 7:27pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 5:47pm: freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 1:32pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 8:30pm: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 6:24pm: Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us. So, food prices aren't rising?   :-/ If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems. Are food prices rising? Why do you keep asking? Do you expect me to keep track of grocery prices for you? You accused the Greens of inventing a problem. They say the problem is rising food prices. Food prices are rising. Thus, they didn't invent a problem - the problem is real and is already happening. If the problem is real, why do you keep asking me if it is real, and ignoring my suggestions that rising prices are not a problem? And finally, what makes you think government-run supermarkets will magically fix anything?

You've mistaken me for someone else.

At no time have I said that "government-run supermarkets will magically fix anything".

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 8^th, 2026 at 9:48am:

freediver wrote on Oct 8th, 2026 at 9:40am: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 8th, 2026 at 9:37am: freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 7:27pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 5:47pm: freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 1:32pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 8:30pm: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 6:24pm: Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us. So, food prices aren't rising?   :-/ If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems. Are food prices rising? Why do you keep asking? Do you expect me to keep track of grocery prices for you? You accused the Greens of inventing a problem. They say the problem is rising food prices. Food prices are rising. Thus, they didn't invent a problem - the problem is real and is already happening. If the problem is real, why do you keep asking me if it is real, and ignoring my suggestions that rising prices are not a problem? And finally, what makes you think government-run supermarkets will magically fix anything? You've mistaken me for someone else. At no time have I said that "government-run supermarkets will magically fix anything".

That's good. You are able to tell the difference between my words and yours. Can you clarify whether you think what I claimed you think, or did you merely want to point out that you have not said it?

Why do you keep asking if prices are rising? And why point out that it is "already happening"? And insisting that it is therefor a problem?

freediver wrote on Oct 8^th, 2026 at 9:59am:

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 8th, 2026 at 9:48am: freediver wrote on Oct 8th, 2026 at 9:40am: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 8th, 2026 at 9:37am: freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 7:27pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 5:47pm: freediver wrote on Oct 7th, 2026 at 1:32pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 8:30pm: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 6:24pm: Hung Uncut Black Muslim Jew wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 10:41am: freediver wrote on Oct 6th, 2026 at 7:46am: LOL. Government run grocery stores. What planet are the Greens living on? Have they never heard of Aldi and IGA? Give the man a gobstopper .... yes Aldi and IGA have made a little impact, ColesWorth are still gouging shoppers.. Perhaps they like it. Despite all the bad publicity, shoppers keep going back. No-one is forcing them to. They have four major supermarkets to choose from, plus countless discount shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, independent grocers etc. This is just the greens trying desperately to invent a problem so they can micromanage our businesses and our lives for us. So, food prices aren't rising?   :-/ If prices were stagnant, or falling, the Greens would call it a problem that they must fix, and invent a way to micromanage our lives and our businesses for us. They are like farmers. They complain when there is a drought. They complain when there is a flood. They complain when there is a fire. They complain when there is a bumper crop so prices crash. It is actually the reserve bank's job to make sure prices rise steadily by several percent each year. It's not a problem, unless you are the sort who spends their life looking for problems. Are food prices rising? Why do you keep asking? Do you expect me to keep track of grocery prices for you? You accused the Greens of inventing a problem. They say the problem is rising food prices. Food prices are rising. Thus, they didn't invent a problem - the problem is real and is already happening. If the problem is real, why do you keep asking me if it is real, and ignoring my suggestions that rising prices are not a problem? And finally, what makes you think government-run supermarkets will magically fix anything? You've mistaken me for someone else. At no time have I said that "government-run supermarkets will magically fix anything". That's good. You are able to tell the difference between my words and yours. Can you clarify whether you think what I claimed you think, or did you merely want to point out that you have not said it? Why do you keep asking if prices are rising? And why point out that it is "already happening"? And insisting that it is therefor a problem?

I've shown no support for government-run supermarkets, or the Greens for that matter.

I've shown no opinion, one way or the other.

All I've said is "interesting idea".

You said the Greens invented a problem - you were wrong.

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I've shown no support for government-run supermarkets, or the Greens for that matter.

Well evaded Greg. Do you support government-run supermarkets?


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All I've said is "interesting idea".

Did you say this?


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Thus, they didn't invent a problem - the problem is real and is already happening.

And this?


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Are food prices rising?

And if so, why?

Pecca tells so many fibs that he won't go to heaven.    :-[

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 8^th, 2026 at 9:37am:

You accused the Greens of inventing a problem. They say the problem is rising food prices. Food prices are rising. Thus, they didn't invent a problem - the problem is real and is already happening.

So then let's ask oiher questions - Are food prices rising astronomically? If not why is it a problem?

How do they propose to lower food prices, precisely, not just a thought bubble?

A forced sale? Do they get to demand a fair price or will the Greens determine that?

A forced sale to whom? Do they have the equity?

The Greens want the government to take over some super market chains,
seems the same thing happened in the Communist former USSR.
Certainly brought food prices down, only problem was that there was very little food to buy.
The Greens have long been pushing Communism.