"the genesis of the inquiry was simply a populist reaction to voters grumbling about price increases". .... thats a fair assumption to make Joe. as yet though there is some evidence over years that there are real problems with grocery pricing, particularly when it deprives producers of a fair price which allows their businesses to be sustainable.
theres a valid argument on the supermarkets side as to the prices paid to producers too though; its enabled cheaper retail prices, eg. $1/L milk. yet farmers and other producers always lose out and this is risking the destruction of farmers livelihood.
another important point I'd like to see addressed is the export of much of our quality fruit and veg. strawberries are now provided by a single US market holder that came to Aus over a decade ago and bought contracts with growers. the best berries are sold o/s leaving second rate for Aussies. Same practice applies to other fruit such as peaches. these 2 examples are the most noticeable. and the export of fruit/veg pushes up the retail price to us customers.
