Public hearings1 Nov 2024

In November 2024, we conducted public hearings involving senior executives of ALDI, Coles, Metcash, Woolworths, and other stakeholders. The public hearings helped to gain a more complete understanding of key issues in the retail grocery sector and its associated supply chains.

The hearings considered issues including:

  • supermarket price setting practices
  • retail competition
  • supermarket profitability and margins
  • concerns raised in grocery supply chains.

The  General practice note for conduct of hearings ( PDF 134.99 KB )  set out general guidance about the procedures we followed for the hearings.

Public hearing dates and attendees

The public hearing dates and attendees were:

  • 7 and 8 November 2024 – Consumer advocacy groups, supplier industry representative bodies and supplier(s)
  • 11 and 12 November 2024 – ALDI
  • 14 and 15 November 2024 – Metcash
  • 18 and 19 November 2024 – Woolworths
  • 21 and 22 November 2024 – Coles.

Transcripts of public hearings

The supermarkets inquiry public hearings have finished and transcripts are now available. 

Private hearings

In addition to the public hearings, we conducted some private hearings with representatives of ALDI, Metcash, Woolworths and Coles in October 2024, and a further private hearing with Woolworths in December 2024.

We may take evidence in private where:

  • a witness objects to giving evidence in public on the basis that their evidence is confidential, and
  • we are satisfied that the evidence is confidential and that it is desirable for the evidence to be given in private.

Witness statements

We may permit witnesses to give evidence by way of written statements, verified by oath or affirmation.

We invited and received written statements from several witnesses in relation to the private hearings. We publish written statements provided, subject to confidentiality claims.

We can accept confidentiality claims where:

  • the witness objects to evidence being made public, and
  • we are satisfied that it is evidence which would have been taken in private if it had been given orally and the witness had objected to giving it in public.

Where a confidentiality claim is accepted over an entire statement, we do not publish the statement. Where a confidentiality claim is accepted over only part of a statement, we publish a redacted version of the statement.

Media queries

Any media queries should be directed to the ACCC media team at media@accc.gov.au or 1300 138 917.