Calls for royal commission into Coles and Woolworths over damaging milk war

A Queensland Nationals MP will call on Parliament for another public inquiry into Coles and Woolworths over a damaging milk war.

Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien, who won a royal commission into banks says “Coles and Woolworths have completely bastardised” the proposal to introduce a ten-cent-per-litre levy on all milk to help drought-affected farmers.

Nationals Senator John ‘Wacka’ Williams tells Ross Greenwood the price of milk is “crazy”.

“Why would you be able to… pay more money for two litres of water than two litres of milk when you go to the supermarket?

“These dairy farmers work hard. They produce a good product.”

He says the drought is setting farmers back.

“The feeding of the dairy cattle is costing them so much they’re going backwards at a rapid rate of knots.”

While he’s unsure of a royal commission, Senator Williams says he would like to see a parliamentary inquiry.

He says the issue with a royal commission would be the need for producers to go public.

“Many of these people who supply supermarkets are gun shy.

“They don’t want to come out and make a public statement in fear of losing their contracts, losing their livelihood.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview