Choice calls for supermarket ombudsman

Consumer group Choice has called for the establishment of a supermarket ombudsman, saying it would help solve issues relating to competition and fairness.

“There is a need for real leadership on resolving supermarket issues in Australia – rip-off prices, endemic unfairness and the lowest level of competition possible,” Choice chief executive Nick Stace told News.com.au.

“There is a need for government to seriously consider a bold and robust policy that will bring about real change, not the window shopping currently taking place.”

Stace said Australia has the tenth-highest food inflation out of 30 OECD countries for the year ending September 2009, and something must be done.

“These are industry-specific problems, which economy-wide regulators have been unable or unwilling to tackle head on… It will go on like this for another 100 years unless radical and bold action is taken.”