Opportunities to generate further competition in the grocery sector through Queensland’s planning framework

We are reviewing the planning framework and identifying opportunities to generate more competition in the grocery sector.

We’ve developed a Consultation Paper (PDF, 663KB) which is now available for public comment. This is an opportunity for all stakeholders to provide feedback on the opportunities put forward.

We want to hear from:

  • local governments
  • the supermarket and grocery sector
  • planning and development industry
  • the community.

The Consultation Paper includes questions to prompt matters to include in your submission.

You can provide feedback by:

Consultation closes on 12 November 2024.

Background

Between July 2022–2024, the Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded a consumer price index increase of 9.6% for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Increased grocery prices contribute to elevated inflation and cost of living pressures being experienced in Queensland and Australia.

The Queensland Government established the Queensland Parliamentary Supermarket Pricing Select Committee (the Committee) to examine the causes and effects of increased supermarket prices and identify opportunities to increase transparency in the supermarket sector for consumers and producers.

On 31 May 2024, the Committee published its Inquiry into Supermarket Pricing (PDF, 1.0MB) and identified eight recommendations. These recommendations broadly relate to five key areas:

  • Strengthening the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct
  • Supporting Queensland’s growers and producers
  • Promoting healthy competition in Queensland’s supermarket sector
  • Supporting Queensland’s regional and remote communities
  • Empowering consumers in Queensland.

The Queensland Government has accepted all the recommendations by the Committee.

We’re identifying opportunities and making improvements to the planning framework in response to Recommendation 4 of the inquiry.

Recommendation 4 states:

“That the Queensland Government reflect on statements provided by industry representatives to the committee and assess the viability of how planning guidelines could generate further competition in the supermarket sector, providing an expanded variety of product and price choice for Queensland consumers.”

Other Queensland Government agencies will undertake actions to address the remaining recommendations.

Next steps

Your feedback will help us implement effective changes to Queensland’s planning framework that will generate further competition in the grocery sector.

We’ll review all feedback and submissions received to inform further consideration of initiatives and improvements to Queensland’s planning framework. This may take time and involve additional research, consultation, policy development and scenario testing.

We are reviewing the planning framework and identifying opportunities to generate more competition in the grocery sector.

We’ve developed a Consultation Paper (PDF, 663KB) which is now available for public comment. This is an opportunity for all stakeholders to provide feedback on the opportunities put forward.

We want to hear from:

  • local governments
  • the supermarket and grocery sector
  • planning and development industry
  • the community.

The Consultation Paper includes questions to prompt matters to include in your submission.

You can provide feedback by:

Consultation closes on 12 November 2024.

Background

Between July 2022–2024, the Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded a consumer price index increase of 9.6% for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Increased grocery prices contribute to elevated inflation and cost of living pressures being experienced in Queensland and Australia.

The Queensland Government established the Queensland Parliamentary Supermarket Pricing Select Committee (the Committee) to examine the causes and effects of increased supermarket prices and identify opportunities to increase transparency in the supermarket sector for consumers and producers.

On 31 May 2024, the Committee published its Inquiry into Supermarket Pricing (PDF, 1.0MB) and identified eight recommendations. These recommendations broadly relate to five key areas:

  • Strengthening the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct
  • Supporting Queensland’s growers and producers
  • Promoting healthy competition in Queensland’s supermarket sector
  • Supporting Queensland’s regional and remote communities
  • Empowering consumers in Queensland.

The Queensland Government has accepted all the recommendations by the Committee.

We’re identifying opportunities and making improvements to the planning framework in response to Recommendation 4 of the inquiry.

Recommendation 4 states:

“That the Queensland Government reflect on statements provided by industry representatives to the committee and assess the viability of how planning guidelines could generate further competition in the supermarket sector, providing an expanded variety of product and price choice for Queensland consumers.”

Other Queensland Government agencies will undertake actions to address the remaining recommendations.

Next steps

Your feedback will help us implement effective changes to Queensland’s planning framework that will generate further competition in the grocery sector.

We’ll review all feedback and submissions received to inform further consideration of initiatives and improvements to Queensland’s planning framework. This may take time and involve additional research, consultation, policy development and scenario testing.