A gap in the market: why Aldi won’t come to Tasmania

Choice has confirmed what Tasmanians already knew: we're getting ripped off at the checkout. Choice compared the price of a basket of essential groceries from Woolies, Coles and Aldi across the country. Aldi was cheaper by 25 per cent in every state except Tassie and the Northern Territory, which don't have Aldi. And Choice said that the lack of supermarket options for Tasmanians means that we're paying more for groceries—not good!

Mainlanders have no idea what it's like to not have all the options at your fingertips. I joke that when I come to the mainland I go and check out supermarkets as a little bit of a tourist attraction—and I went to this tourist attraction on the weekend. Last year when I went on a family holiday to Adelaide we all bundled along to the local Aldi to suss it out. It was exciting! But then it was absolutely discouraging—

An honourable senator interjecting—

Senator TYRRELL:

I know, there were better things in South Australia, I'm sure. But it made me realise just what we're missing out on in Tassie. In the report of the Senate committee inquiry into supermarket prices I called on the federal government to look at ways to get more supermarket competition in Tassie. Aldi has already put Tassie in the too-hard basket. They say they're not setting up here because of supply chain issues and logistical reasons. I've heard time and again that when competitors come to a city the prices at Woolies and Coles go down. Why shouldn't Tassie have that, just because we live across the ditch?

The cost of living is at the top of everyone's minds, and groceries are one of the areas where you feel the pinch the most. I know what it's like to put something back on the shelf because you can't afford it—the way you look around to see if anyone else has noticed, if they'll know you're struggling. Tassie needs more supermarket competition. Federal and state governments have a role to play to make sure that doesn't happen. (Time expired)