Katter and Xenophon team up for price fight
Creating their own fruit and vegetable stall in Adelaide's Rundle Mall today, Independents Bob Katter and Nick Xenophon called for the introduction of farmgate pricing information in Australia's supermarkets.
If the legislation is passed, consumers would be able to see an average 'farmgate' prices - what farmers were paid for the produce - next to the retail price, for consumers to compare the mark-up.
"Right now farmers are being paid a pittance for their produce while shoppers pay a small fortune for their groceries," Independent Senator for South Australia, Nick Xenophon said.
"If Coles and Woolies are about being open, then they shouldn't have a problem with this level of transparency," he said.
"Coles and Woolworths need to explain to consumers why they are paying so much when the people that actually grow the food, year in year out, are struggling to make a living," Independent Queensland MP, Bob Katter said.
The pair used the example that farmers who grow apples are only given $2.00 a kilogram, whereas consumers will pay around $5.98 for a kilogram in the supermarket.
"How can they explain these figures to the Australian people?" Mr Katter said, "You won’t find those colossal mark-ups anywhere else in the world and it’s got to stop."
"You talk to farmers, they don’t want their kids to go into farming because they’re getting such a raw deal," Senator Xenophon said.
Unusual pairing?
When questioned by the media about his allegiances with other politicians of late, Senator Xenophon said he was willing to partner with whoever wanted to 'do the right thing'.
"I will align myself with people like Bob Katter and Barnaby Joyce because they will do the right thing for consumers and farmers," he said.
"And right now the big two, the major parties have really sidelined the issue of Coles and Woolies."
"It’s about time we had a national debate about breaking up Coles and Woolies, so that eventually they have 20 percent maximum of the market share each."
"That’s Bob’s policy and I agree with that fully."
Mr Katter agrees.
"I always refer to my colleague from South Australia as the ‘Village Voice’ and the ‘Farmer’s friend’," he said.
"He’s there because he’s the farmer’s friend, I’m the fighter for the farmers."
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