Supermarket inquiry allows government to take ‘cost of living focus’ off itself

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says the supermarket Senate inquiry allows the government to take some of the cost of living focus off itself. Coles CEO Leah Weckert fronted a Senate hearing this week after outgoing Woolworths boss Brad Banducci copped a grilling from Greens Senator Nick McKim. During the inquiry, Mr McKim insisted Mr Banducci respond to ceaseless questioning about one particular type of profit measure, return on equity. Mr Banducci repeatedly refused to answer and the conflict resulted in the Senator threatening to hold the CEO in contempt of the inquiry, which carries up to six months’ jail time. “Some of the evidence to a Senate hearing into supermarket prices was that the supermarkets are forcing suppliers to throw out as much as 40 per cent of their fresh produce,” Mr Clennell said.