The Albanese Government welcomes confirmation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that they are probing the concerning allegations of food mislabelling raised by the ABC's Four Corners program.
Australians deserve confidence that the products they purchase are accurately advertised and that they are getting exactly what they pay for. These allegations have understandably caused considerable concern.
Whether a product is marketed as Australian‑grown, cage‑free, or made from particular ingredients, consumers have a right to expect the label tells the truth. When people pay a premium based on those claims and do not get what they paid for, they are being ripped off.
These allegations are not just about consumers. They are also about fairness for Australian farmers, producers and businesses that do the right thing. Honest businesses should be rewarded for competing on quality and integrity, not undercut by those making claims that are misleading or false.
At a time when cost of living pressures remain significant, every dollar counts. Australians should be able to shop with confidence, knowing claims about where food comes from, how it is produced and what it contains can be trusted.
That is why the Albanese Government is backing a strong consumer watchdog. We increased maximum penalties under the Competition and Consumer Act tenfold, from $10 million to $100 million, ensuring breaches of consumer law cannot simply be treated as a cost of doing business.
We have also provided the ACCC with almost $100 million in additional funding to strengthen enforcement against misleading and anti‑competitive conduct, including dedicated funding to crack down on misconduct in the supermarket sector.
The Albanese Government will not stand by while consumers and farmers are taken for a ride. That's why we have delivered the most significant strengthening of consumer protections in a generation:
- Banned price gouging in the supermarket sector.
- Strengthened consumer guarantees so Australians can have confidence they will get what they paid for when buying goods and services.
- Banned unfair trading practices, including subscription traps and drip pricing.
- Strengthening product safety laws and introducing tougher penalties for businesses that put consumers at risk.
- Taken action on unsafe products, including dangerous e‑bikes and e‑scooters.
- Made the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct mandatory, backed by significant penalties.
- Strengthening the Unit Pricing Code and introducing new shrinkflation notifications so shoppers can make informed choices.
