Senator Presses Government on Lack of Price-Gouging Scrutiny

Labor senator Fatima Payman has urged a broader approach as Australians face continued cost-of-living pressures.

Woolworths, Coles and Aldi signage supermarket signage in Melbourne, Australia on March 13, 2024. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

During a Senate economics legislation committee hearing, Senator Fatima Payman queried the government over why upcoming anti-price gouging measures will apply only to supermarkets.

In March 2025, the government pledged to introduce legislation to outlaw supermarket price gouging, which involves increasing prices on essentials to an unreasonable level, following an election commitment to strengthen consumer protections.