The impacts of supermarket price decisions on the dairy industry

3 November 2011

View the report as a single document - (PDF 3387KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:


Membership of Committee	(PDF 179KB)

Glossary and abbreviations	(PDF 55KB)

Summary and recommendations	(PDF 83KB)

Chapter 1 - Introduction	(PDF 144KB)
The supermarkets' price decisions Referral and conduct of this inquiry Outline of the report

Chapter 2 - Overview of Australia's dairy industry	(PDF 635KB)
Recent history The structure of the industry and varying levels of exposure to retail prices

Chapter 3 - Private label milk in Australia	(PDF 213KB)
Growth in private label milk post-deregulation Current private label contractual arrangements Differences between private label and branded milk Why do processors continue to supply private label milk? Implications for influence of the major supermarkets on the dairy industry

Chapter 4 - Early impacts of the pricing decisions	(PDF 697KB)
Demand for milk Changes in the volume and value of milk sales since January 2011 Assessment of early information

Chapter 5 - Impact of the retail price cuts at the farm gate	(PDF 433KB)
Impact on processors and possible flow on effects Contracts between farmers and processors Relationship between the January 2011 price cuts, farm gate prices and contract arrangements

Chapter 6 - Predatory pricing and the ACCC's investigation	(PDF 147KB)
Predatory pricing Initial calls for an ACCC investigation The ACCC's investigation Transparency of ACCC investigations

Chapter 7 - Competition law	(PDF 242KB)
Background Anti-competitive price discrimination Misuse of market power and predatory pricing Divestiture and limits on market share Mergers and acquisitions Is there a need to review the Competition and Consumer Act?

Chapter 8 - Relative bargaining power and other issues in the supply chain	(PDF 152KB)
Collective bargaining Current dispute resolution mechanisms for grocery suppliers Calls for a new code of conduct Calls for an ombudsman

Government Senators' Additional Comments	(PDF 82KB)

Additional Comments by Independent Senator Nick Xenophon, Nationals Senator John Williams, Liberal Senator the Hon. Bill Heffernan, Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan, and Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne	(PDF 124KB)

APPENDIX 1	(PDF 42KB)
Submissions received Additional information received Tabled documents

APPENDIX 2 - Public Hearings and Witnesses	(PDF 12KB)

APPENDIX 3 - Government response to the first interim report	(PDF 220KB)

For further information, contact:

Senate Standing Committees on Economics
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3540

Fax: +61 2 6277 5719

Email: economics.sen@aph.gov.au

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3540
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5719
Email:	economics.sen@aph.gov.au