Coles misleading price verdict shows divestiture powers needed   
2026-05-14
greens.org.au
Coles being found to have deliberately misled customers with fake discounts shows again that Australia needs powers to break up the supermarket duopoly and an economy-wide ban on price-gouging, the Greens say.

The Federal Court today found Coles misled customers with fake discounts, in a case brought by the ACCC.    

“Coles and Woolworths treat customers with contempt because they have an iron grip on this country’s grocery sector,” Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.   

“As the Greens-led Senate inquiry found, Australia needs divestiture powers to forcibly break up the supermarket duopoly, as well as other oligopolies.”

“We also need economy-wide price gouging laws, particularly during a cost of living crisis.”   

“The major parties are in thrall to the big corporations because of their political donations. The Greens are not. We need divestiture and price gouging laws now.”

“The Greens have legislation already drafted and ready to go - the only thing we need is for a bit of courage from the Labor and Liberal parties.”   

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What duopoly? In 2023, Woolies had 37% of the market share and coles 28%. And shrinking. The government needs to stop meddling and micromanaging and let competition do it's thing. It's not the government that needs to act, it's shoppers. Unless of course, they actually think coles and woolies are doing a good thing. They are not as stupid as the little dictators think.

But... but... but...

... this is all so "un-Australian" and "not the Australian way", isn't it?

Or so the pollies keep telling us.

However, we all know it is the Australian way and has been for a very long time.

Well said Bobby, this has been going on for far too long.  Also its not just the supermarkets, as you rightly point out.  I wonder if a BIG fine here and there might work wonders.