The Federal Government is moving with states and territories to ensure planning laws do not “unjustifiably restrict competition in grocery retailing”, Competition Minister Dr Craig Emerson has advised. A NSW government review of anti-competitive features of its planning and zoning laws is underway and the Federal Government is looking to work with the state government on a range of measures. In its grocery inquiry report, the ACCC found that planning and zoning legislation restricts competition... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has today welcomed the recommendations in the Productivity Commission’s Market for Retail Tenancy Leases final report, but is concerned about the Commission’s silence on the required disclosure of tenants’ turnover figures. ARA’s Executive Director Richard Evans said the release of the Productivity Commission’s report on retail leasing has recommendations welcomed by retailers, including nationally... ...Read more »

The ACCC report into the state of competition in the grocery industry has been released, with a number of recommendations mooted to improve competition. It should be noted, however, that the ACCC believe the issue of food inflation may have been overstated in some quarters. Australian Food News reports on the ACCC’s response to the major issues raised during the Inquiry. In General – Key Findings The ACCC suggest that the current nature of grocery retailing in Australia is “workably... ...Read more »

The Rudd Government today released its preliminary action plan in response to the Report of the ACCC inquiry into ‘the competitiveness of retail prices for standard groceries’. The Report reveals there is real reform to be had in Australia’s grocery sector, according to the Government. Despite the Report establishing that “grocery retailing is workably competitive” it also highlighted a number of factors that currently limit the level of competition including “the... ...Read more »