Ah, the Nationals are at it again – insisting on a policy that is against the interests of Australians living in regional and remote areas.

Forced divestiture of stores by supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths could only lead to higher grocery prices in locations where the cost of transportation is high.

You don’t need to take my word for it – although I conducted a full review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, all of whose recommendations were accepted by the Albanese government and are being implemented.

My report rejected forced divestiture as a penalty for anti-competitive conduct, as has Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Rather, I recommended maximum penalties for major breaches of the mandatory code of conduct of $10 million, 10 per cent of annual turnover or three times the benefit gained, whichever is the greatest.

But the Greens teamed up with the Coalition and sought to legislate forced divestiture.

A decision to order divestment of stores would be for the courts, not for the government of the day or the ACCC. That’s because of the separation of powers between the government and the courts, as required by the Constitution.

Coles and Woolworths dominate the Australian supermarket industry. Aldi and wholesaler Metcash – which supplies IGA stores – are much smaller players.

A court........

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