It can be clear from the recent actions of the major supermarkets the Labor /Liberal policy of deregulation has failed. As a result of removing government protection for our farmers they are now at mercy to the whims of the major supermarkets. Greed and market dominance rule the day as the supermarket duopoly vie to outdo each other at the farmers expense. This can be confirmed with the recent attack on the price of milk.
It doesn't matter which industry or sector you look at, you can see the negative impact of this ideology. All areas of food production are affected. Supermarkets very rarely lose profit. In fact they increase it as they force growers to accept their offer. Australians are addicted to convenience and as a result the number of markets for produce has shrunk. Farmers now have to accept the supermarkets offer or plough their produce into the dirt.
Banks are another example. Charging what they want in interest and fees they thumb their nose at our government's continued calls for lower charges. It is amazing the Australian people have not seen through the crocodile tears of the major parties, as it was their policies and actions that have created this mess and they are only too aware they have no power over an unregulated industry. Every year the Australian people are slugged more and more and bank profits are breaking records yet nothing changes.
One Nation has always supported the policy of regulated markets. This would guaranteed our farmers have a set price for their product at the farm gate. It would also protect the public from profit gouging from the banks and major retailers. Regulation does not necessarily mean government should control all facets of primary production and business operation but can be used as a means of safeguarding producers and consumers. At the least we need to protect our agriculture to ensure it does not go the same way as our manufacturing industry.
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