Wednesday, 7 February 2024

Cost of living

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:38): (679) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Consumer Affairs, and the action that I seek is for the Labor government to take tangible action to ensure that Victorians can afford basic groceries. You might not have heard it in this place, but you will not believe this. The internet is abuzz over the fact that more Coles supermarkets here in Victoria are literally locking their honey in security boxes. Ten-dollar honey can be found on the shelves with an absurd level of security. We first saw this happen about a year ago, with a Coles spokesperson at the time claiming it was because too many people were taking a freebie. But now it is being seen in more and more stores. They need to protect that $10 honey after all.

This follows a trend from our Coles and Woolworths, who have been implementing some extreme surveillance tactics while boasting billions – or buzz-illions – in profit. I have said it before, but the best way to get people to bee-hive themselves and not have sticky fingers is to make basic groceries affordable. But instead, Coles has opted for plan B: to treat shoppers like criminals for setting foot inside their stores. Meanwhile the people of Victoria are going hungry due to price gouging from the supermarket duopoly of Coles and Woolies. The Labor government appears bewitched by the duopoly, refusing to step in and regulate them. We as pollen-ticians have the ability to bring the stories of people struggling to this Parliament, but you as the government have the ability to act.

Despite my delightful puns, this is not actually about honey but rather the fact that Victorians are in a cost-of-living crisis. Every day we see more and more people accessing food relief services for the first time and cutting back on essential services such as health care. Whilst price gouging runs rampant, Victorians are struggling to afford basic groceries. It is time for this Labor government to say ‘New year, new bee’ and to stand up to Coles and Woolies.

The PRESIDENT: So the action was to stand up to Coles and Woolies?

Aiv Puglielli: It was to take action to ensure Victorians can afford basic groceries.