The Greens have unveiled a $30 million plan to entice discount supermarket chain Aldi to Tasmania in a bid to break the stranglehold of the major supermarkets and lower food prices for consumers.
It echos calls from independent senator Tammy Tyrrell, who has been pushing for Aldi to open in Tasmania.
Th Greens’ proposal aims to address what the party describes as price gouging in the island state, where shoppers reportedly pay significantly more for groceries than mainland Australians.
According to the Greens, Tasmanian shoppers pay at least $15 more on essential grocery items compared to Aldi prices, potentially costing households hundreds of dollars annually.
Greens Economic Justice spokesperson and Tasmanian Senator Nick McKim said the initiative would challenge the market dominance of major retailers.
“Coles and Woolworths have had it too good for too long, and Tasmanians are paying the price,” McKim said.
“The Greens will take on the supermarket giants, lure Aldi to Tasmania, and give people a genuine alternative to price-gouging corporate monopolies.”
The plan includes $2 million for a competition review to identify barriers preventing discount supermarkets from entering Tasmania, followed by up to $28 million to support new entrants establish operations.
The funding could support distribution centres, improved supply chains and making government land available competitively to new retailers.
The Greens say the initiative would be funded through their broader tax reform agenda targeting corporations and wealthy individuals.
The Tasmania-specific proposal forms part of the party’s national strategy to reform the supermarket sector, which includes proposed laws to make price gouging illegal, divestiture powers to break up large corporations, and a Prices Commission to monitor corporate profiteering.
“Labor is letting the supermarket duopoly run rampant, while the Liberals are missing in action. The Greens are the only party willing to take these big corporations on,” McKim said.
“Shoppers are being ripped off, farmers are getting a raw deal, and workers are underpaid – all while Coles and Woolworths rake in over a billion each in profits.”
In February, billionaire developer Larry Kestelman said he was ‘determined’ to persuade Aldi to expand south.
“We’re talking to a lot of people, but I’ve been seriously advocated by everyone that I should be talking to ALDI,” he said while announcing his new Wilkinsons Point development.
“I’ve heard it loud and clear from the Tasmanian people. So we’ll see if they want us, [it] sounds like we want them, so we’ll try to facilitate.”
Tasmania is currently the only Australian state without an Aldi store, a fact that has long frustrated locals.
Aldi have previously stated that they have no plans to open in Tasmania.
