Supermarkets slammed minister’s call to freeze ham prices
- Replies 6
If there's one thing we know, old traditions die hard—especially during the festive season.
For Aussies, a traditional Christmas lunch isn't complete without a succulent ham as its centrepiece.
However, the price of this holiday staple has been a hot topic of debate recently, with supermarkets and the Federal Agriculture Minister locking horns over the issue.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has issued a ‘stern warning’ to supermarkets, urging them ‘not to profit off hard-working Aussies’ during the festive season.
In a statement, he called to freeze the prices of leg ham ‘to give families certainty ahead of the big day’.
'The traditional ham is a staple of any Christmas lunch in Australia,' he said.
'And we know families are doing it tough at the moment, and the cost of a lot of things is going up.’
‘It's time for supermarkets to do their part and say one thing we won't put up is the price of a Christmas ham.'
However, supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have hit back at the minister's call, stating that their ham prices are already at record lows of $8/kg for Christmas.
Both supermarkets reduced their prices two months ago, on October 25.
Woolworths claimed its half leg of ham has been the cheapest since 2014, while Coles said its prices were the lowest they've been in four years.
'We really appreciate the minister recognising how Coles has lowered the cost of a Christmas favourite for Australian families,' a Coles spokeswoman said.
They added that the price per kilogram is 50 cents cheaper than last year.
In October, Woolworths Managing Director Natalie Davis said, 'Value is more important than ever this year'.
She added, 'Ham is the centrepiece of the Christmas table for many Australian families, so we're excited to lower the price of our award-winning half-leg ham to $8 per kilo, which is our lowest price for Christmas since 2014.'
The debate over Christmas ham prices is more than just a festive squabble. It's a reflection of the broader economic challenges facing Australian families.
With the cost of living on the rise, many households are feeling the pinch, and the price of Christmas ham—a staple for many—has become a symbol of these financial pressures.
While supermarkets argue that they've already made significant price cuts, the question remains: are these reductions enough? And are supermarkets doing enough to support Australian families during these challenging times?
The Senate is set to begin an investigation into supermarkets, focusing on automation, the treatment of suppliers, and, most importantly, bringing prices down. The Greens have secured Labor's support for the probe into the retailers, signalling a potential shake-up in the industry. Read more about the story here.
Members, do you believe supermarkets are doing enough to support Australian families? Or do you think more needs to be done to keep prices down? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
For Aussies, a traditional Christmas lunch isn't complete without a succulent ham as its centrepiece.
However, the price of this holiday staple has been a hot topic of debate recently, with supermarkets and the Federal Agriculture Minister locking horns over the issue.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has issued a ‘stern warning’ to supermarkets, urging them ‘not to profit off hard-working Aussies’ during the festive season.
In a statement, he called to freeze the prices of leg ham ‘to give families certainty ahead of the big day’.
Minister Murray Watt called out supermarkets to freeze ham prices. Credit: Unsplash
'The traditional ham is a staple of any Christmas lunch in Australia,' he said.
'And we know families are doing it tough at the moment, and the cost of a lot of things is going up.’
‘It's time for supermarkets to do their part and say one thing we won't put up is the price of a Christmas ham.'
However, supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have hit back at the minister's call, stating that their ham prices are already at record lows of $8/kg for Christmas.
Both supermarkets reduced their prices two months ago, on October 25.
Woolworths claimed its half leg of ham has been the cheapest since 2014, while Coles said its prices were the lowest they've been in four years.
'We really appreciate the minister recognising how Coles has lowered the cost of a Christmas favourite for Australian families,' a Coles spokeswoman said.
They added that the price per kilogram is 50 cents cheaper than last year.
In October, Woolworths Managing Director Natalie Davis said, 'Value is more important than ever this year'.
She added, 'Ham is the centrepiece of the Christmas table for many Australian families, so we're excited to lower the price of our award-winning half-leg ham to $8 per kilo, which is our lowest price for Christmas since 2014.'
The debate over Christmas ham prices is more than just a festive squabble. It's a reflection of the broader economic challenges facing Australian families.
With the cost of living on the rise, many households are feeling the pinch, and the price of Christmas ham—a staple for many—has become a symbol of these financial pressures.
While supermarkets argue that they've already made significant price cuts, the question remains: are these reductions enough? And are supermarkets doing enough to support Australian families during these challenging times?
The Senate is set to begin an investigation into supermarkets, focusing on automation, the treatment of suppliers, and, most importantly, bringing prices down. The Greens have secured Labor's support for the probe into the retailers, signalling a potential shake-up in the industry. Read more about the story here.
.png){kind=icon}
