Australian Greens spokesperson for competition and small business, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, announced the Greens' plan to tackle big supermarket dominance ahead of today's public symposium on Supermarket Power in Australia sponsored by Monash University and the Melbourne University Law School.

"Our plan tackles the supermarket duopoly nationally, ensures fair competition for farmers and small business, and reforms competition policy so it serves the interests of the Tasmanian community, not just big business," Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said.

The Australian Greens have welcomed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) concerns about the Big Two supermarkets’ moves to cut out competition in the fuel market.

 “The real cost of the supermarkets big reward schemes will hit independent retailers, creating a fuel duopoly which will hurt South Australian consumers in the long-run,” Australian Greens Consumer Affairs spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said.

Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne today announced an $85 million plan to help farmers bypass the big two supermarkets and sell direct to consumers.

"People care about where their food comes from and that local farmers get paid a reasonable price for it," Senator Milne said.

"Farmers don't have many options for selling their produce outside the low prices offered by the big supermarket chains.

The Greens' $85 million plan to help farmers bypass the Big Two supermarkets and sell directly to consumers will make it easier to get healthy food, help our farmers get a fair price, and create local jobs.

Read our plan to bring farmers and consumers together.

Australian Greens Small Business spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, said that Prime Minister Rudd should be focused on the serious matter of small businesses yet to be paid for their work on the ASIO building rather than putting on a pre-election show.

"Today Prime Minister Rudd put on a show for the cameras at the new ASIO building while the $704 million federal government building project has resulted in an estimated 100 small businesses not being paid for their hard work," said Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

The Greens have welcomed the ACCC’s plan to raise awareness on the dangers of lithium batteries.

 “Five children are taken to emergency wards around the country every week after swallowing lithium batteries, and we welcome any action taken to raise awareness and prevent further disasters,” Greens Consumer Affairs spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said. 

“Parents need to be aware of this danger in every Australian household and the fact that these tiny batteries can fall into tiny hands.

A mandatory national scheme is needed to make Australian companies work towards improving the terrible and dangerous conditions in foreign sweatshops, like those revealed in a Four Corners report this evening, the Australian Greens have said.

“The real cost of Australia’s cheap clothes isn’t measured in dollars and cents, it’s measured in human suffering,” the Greens’ consumer affairs spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

There is concern across the Tasmanian wine industry that Tasmanian Forestry Agreement (TFA) funding will be used to push for investment in new  "supply driven" growth - in the form of significant new vineyard plantings - leading to the quadrupling of the industry over the next 10 years.

The Greens vision for the future of Tasmania's diversified, brand-driven economy was today supported by an independent feasibility study of a locally owned and branded abattoir on King Island.

Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Tasmanian MP Basil O'Halloran recently visited King Island to introduce financial experts to beef farmers in a move to promote the development of a new independent, farmer owned abattoir on the Island.