11 November 2009
Media Statement

Do-nothing Minister’s poor advice to families struggling with soaring food bills – ‘shop around’

Heather Roy’s pathetic shoulder-shrugging over the news Kiwi families are facing faster-rising grocery prices than almost every other OECD country is not good enough, says Labour’s Consumer Affairs Spokesperson Carol Beaumont.

“An Australian study released this week found the price of food in New Zealand has risen by 42.5 per cent in a decade, faster than in any other OECD country bar Korea.

“Australia had the third highest rise in grocery prices over that time and much of the problem is put down to the existence of the same supermarket duopoly that is experienced in New Zealand,” says Carol Beaumont.

“Sadly, Consumer Affairs Minister Heather Roy plans to do nothing about the problem, with the exception of suggesting only that families struggling with food bills should ‘shop around’.

“This is just another example of a Government sitting on the sidelines, while hard-working New Zealand families are confronted with soaring food prices.

“The Australian Consumer Affairs Minister has confirmed his Government is engaged in policy work to increase competition in the sector and bring food prices down,” says Carol Beaumont.

“Why isn’t the National Government here prepared to do the same thing? It’s just not good enough, especially during a recession when households are already under increased pressure.

“Come on Heather Roy, surely you can do a bit more shopping around yourself and come up with some better ideas to help alleviate these price rises?”

ENDS

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