Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

The food and grocery code outlines new reporting and record-keeping obligations on retailers and wholesalers. This provides the ACCC with more efficient ways to instigate further inquiries and request that these documents be provided to it for inspection to assess compliance with the code using its audit power.

Senator Conroy interjecting—

Under the code, the ACCC can access such information and documents that go to the heart of how suppliers are being treated by retailers in a much faster and more reliable way than was previously possible. ACCC chair Rod Sims said, 'The new code makes it clear that no matter how much bargaining power a retailer holds, they must deal with their suppliers fairly.'

That is something we on this side fully agree with and, from the interjections from Senator Conroy, one suspects that the Australian Labor Party does not. (Time expired)