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World-First Crackdown Targets Coles, Woolies
The law gives the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission power to police excessive pricing, but undefined profit margins may make cases hard to prove.
- Starting July 1, 2026, Australia will launch the world's first ban on supermarket price-gouging, targeting Coles and Woolworths under enforcement by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission .
- Designed to capture only Coles and Woolworths, the prohibition applies to 'very large retailers' with over $30 billion in revenue, following widespread dissatisfaction with grocery prices last year.
- Regulators will assess if pricing is 'significantly excessive' relative to cost of supply plus a 'reasonable' margin, with the ACCC prioritizing monitoring based on consumer reports and pricing data.
- Coles and Woolworths expressed concerns regarding the lack of a clear definition for 'excessive price,' emphasizing that compliance adds operational costs while global competitors remain exempt.
- ACCC Acting Chair Catriona Lowe stated the watchdog will focus on products where pricing harms consumers most, intending to use the law as a deterrent and publishing regular updates.
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ACCC to monitor Coles and Woolworths from 1 July
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will begin monitoring supermarket pricing from 1 July 2026, when a new excessive pricing prohibition targeting Coles and Woolworths comes into force. The prohibition, an amendment to the Food and Grocery Code announced by the federal government on 14 December 2025, applies to retailers with annual revenue exceeding $30 billion – a threshold that currently captures only the two major chain…
Sydney Morning HeraldReposted by 
The Age
The AgeColes and Woolies are being banned from price-gouging. No one knows what exactly that means
From July 1, Australia’s dominant supermarkets will have their prices monitored for “significantly excessive” pricing – whatever that entails.
·North Sydney, Australia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution38% Left, 37% Right
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Left, 37% of the sources lean Right
38% Left
L 38%
C 25%
R 37%
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