The Albanese Government is taking further steps to help Australians get a fairer deal at the checkout. When families have the right information in front of them, they can compare prices with confidence, make informed choices and save money.
Today we are releasing a consultation paper on new requirements for supermarkets to improve transparency about prices, promotions and loyalty programs. These proposals directly respond to recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Supermarkets Inquiry, which found that current pricing and promotional practices often make it too difficult for consumers to assess value for money.
We are seeking community and stakeholder views on proposals to require:
- all supermarkets, including remote stores, to publish prices in‑store
- large supermarkets to publish prices online, ensure web‑scraping technologies can be used by third parties like online comparison websites and apps, and display minimum information about promotions, supported by record‑keeping requirements
- very large supermarkets to provide members with six‑monthly information summaries for loyalty programs.
This consultation forms part of the Government's election commitment the strengthen competition and improve fairness in the grocery sector, complementing broader actions we have already taken to support consumers and suppliers, including:
- making supermarket price gouging illegal
- providing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with over $30 million to address harmful or misleading conduct in the supermarket and retail sectors
- working to strengthen the Unit Pricing Code, including to tackle shrinkflation
- launching the Supporting Fresh Produce Suppliers - Food and Grocery Code Education Program, providing $2 million in grants to help fresh produce suppliers gain the skills they need to stand up to the big supermarkets
- funding CHOICE to give shoppers more information on supermarket prices
- making the Food and Grocery Code mandatory with significant multi‑million‑dollar penalties for serious breaches
- increasing penalties for breaches of the competition and consumer law.
Submissions can be made online on the Treasury consultation hub until 17 February 2026.
Quote attributable to Assistant Minister for Competition, Andrew Leigh
"Supermarket prices shouldn't be a guessing game. Clear, accessible information allows shoppers to compare prices fairly and make informed choices. Greater transparency on prices, promotions and loyalty programs helps ensure Australians know exactly what they're paying for at the checkout."
