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| Supermarket petrol discounts could undermine competition, ACCC warns | Supermarket petrol discounts could undermine competition, ACCC warns |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| The ACCC has expressed "significant and further concern" that petrol discounts on shopper dockets could damage competition and lead to higher fuel prices in the long term. | The ACCC has expressed "significant and further concern" that petrol discounts on shopper dockets could damage competition and lead to higher fuel prices in the long term. |
| The competition watchdog's chairman, Rod Sims, said Coles and Woolworths shopper dockets were offering discounts on petrol of up to 45 cents per litre, which might benefit consumers in the short term, but were likely to harm the petrol retail industry. | The competition watchdog's chairman, Rod Sims, said Coles and Woolworths shopper dockets were offering discounts on petrol of up to 45 cents per litre, which might benefit consumers in the short term, but were likely to harm the petrol retail industry. |
| "Even at the level of eight cents, it would be difficult to see how an unsubsidised fuel retailer could compete on a sustainable basis. Now, the discounts are substantially higher," said Sims at an Australian Institute of Company Directors' Leaders' Edge lunch in Melbourne on Monday. | "Even at the level of eight cents, it would be difficult to see how an unsubsidised fuel retailer could compete on a sustainable basis. Now, the discounts are substantially higher," said Sims at an Australian Institute of Company Directors' Leaders' Edge lunch in Melbourne on Monday. |
| "If Coles and Woolworths wish to offer their customers a discount, it should be off supermarket products, not petrol. The ACCC believes this activity is likely to have a negative effect on competition in the petrol industry. Over time, higher petrol prices could be the result." | "If Coles and Woolworths wish to offer their customers a discount, it should be off supermarket products, not petrol. The ACCC believes this activity is likely to have a negative effect on competition in the petrol industry. Over time, higher petrol prices could be the result." |
| A spokeswoman for Woolworths told Guardian Australia that the company had offered petrol discounts on their shopper dockets for 17 years, at a standard offer of 4 cents off per litre. | A spokeswoman for Woolworths told Guardian Australia that the company had offered petrol discounts on their shopper dockets for 17 years, at a standard offer of 4 cents off per litre. |
| "The petrol discounts we offer are popular with customers who value the savings they can make on their fuel purchases. Petrol is a significant part of the family budget and many of our customers find these discounts helpful in managing their weekly expenses," she said. | "The petrol discounts we offer are popular with customers who value the savings they can make on their fuel purchases. Petrol is a significant part of the family budget and many of our customers find these discounts helpful in managing their weekly expenses," she said. |
| The spokeswoman said the highest discount Woolworths had ever offered was 45 cents, but that was through a four-day promotion, sent by targeted email to customers. From tomorrow a 20 cent discount will be available to consumers who purchased a particular brand of product. | The spokeswoman said the highest discount Woolworths had ever offered was 45 cents, but that was through a four-day promotion, sent by targeted email to customers. From tomorrow a 20 cent discount will be available to consumers who purchased a particular brand of product. |
| A spokeswoman for Coles also said their petrol discounts, along with the prices of groceries, helped "hard working families deal with the rising cost of living". | A spokeswoman for Coles also said their petrol discounts, along with the prices of groceries, helped "hard working families deal with the rising cost of living". |
| "We think customers should have lower prices on groceries and be able to save on fuel," she said. | "We think customers should have lower prices on groceries and be able to save on fuel," she said. |
| The ACCC is nearing the end of its year-long investigation into discount petrol dockets, including looking at whether the discounts have an effect on the underlying price levels of petrol. | The ACCC is nearing the end of its year-long investigation into discount petrol dockets, including looking at whether the discounts have an effect on the underlying price levels of petrol. |
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