CONSUMER group Choice is calling for a supermarket ombudsman to tackle competition issues, monitor store behaviour and investigate potential abuses of market power.
In a speech to be delivered today at a consumer conference in Sydney, Choice chief executive Nick Stace will urge Canberra to appoint a dedicated ombudsman for the sector, which the group believes is plagued by ''questionable practices''.
He said an ombudsman would research supermarket issues and make recommendations to governments, identify possible breaches of laws and codes and refer them to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
''What we are going to be calling for is going to be supported, I think, by a very large consensus of change,'' Mr Stace told The Age. ''And obviously that consensus doesn't include Coles and Woolworths, but it does include quite a lot of the small independents and big farming lobbies.''
Under the proposal, an ombudsman would also take over disputes now dealt with by the Produce and Grocery Industry Ombudsman. The role would also involve dealing with consumer disputes that may involve misleading price claims.
But Consumer Affairs Minister Craig Emerson said last night: ''We already have an ombudsman for competition and market power issues - it's the ACCC.''
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