Australia should increase competition to fight ‘excessive pricing’ by supermarkets, Rod Sims says

Former regulator head's comments follow Guardian Australia analysis which shows Coles and Woolworths increased profit margins during cost-of-living crisis

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The former competition watchdog head Rod Sims says Australia's big supermarkets have likely used their market power to increase prices higher than necessary during a cost-of-living crisis and that the government should consider reforming merger laws to limit their dominance.

Sims, who retired as the chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) last year, said Coles and Woolworths have little to worry about when making pricing decisions because they control two-thirds of the market.

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