Grower Protection from Bunnings
Watch our video with a brave former Bunnings supplier
Keep the conversation going:
- tell trusted friends, family and networks about your experiences
- like, share and post on social media, if you feel safe to
- tell us – on or off the record via hello@greenlifeindustry.com.au or by calling 1300 95 95 13
Senate Inquiry
- GIA CEO Joanna Cave's Evidence in Orange - March 12, 2024: https://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Read_Listen/ParlView/video/2257679 (starts at 13:21:40)
- Peter Smith & Karen Brock's evidence in Canberra - April 11, 2024: https://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Read_Listen/ParlView/video/2356807 (starts at 15:45:00)
- Bunnings' evidence in Canberra - April 15, 2024 https://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Read_Listen/ParlView/video/2362457 (starts at14:29:00)
Media coverage
April 2024
- 8 May 2024 - ABC Country Hour: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nt-country-hour/nt-country-hour/103794438
- 18 April - The New Daily: https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2024/04/15/bunnings-plant-suppliers-code-of-conduct
- 7 April - Jade Egan interviews former Bunnings supplier, Karen Brock: https://m.soundcloud.com/user-895414954/ct-pm-int-2-bunnings
- 16 April - Country Today: https://soundcloud.com/user-895414954/ct-pm-int-2-bunnings
- 16 April - 7.30 Report – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-16/supermarket-bosses-grilled-at-a-fiery-senate/103732234
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16 April - Investing.com: https://au.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/wesfarmers-asx-wes-shares-dip-amid-allegations-against-bunnings-warehouse-319943315 April - News.com.au: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/senate-inquiry-into-supermarket-prices-set-to-hear-from-coles-and-woolies/news-story/2e30ef27092c32c3646a754b5be68b30
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15 April – ABC news - https://iview.abc.net.au/show/7-30?utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared (starts at 15:47)
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15 April - The Advertiser: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/bunnings-faces-supermarket-prices-inquiry/video/fbbfd64417833392b9a98bb365e9de69
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15 April - MSN: https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/news/former-competition-boss-urges-supermarket-break-up-laws/ar-BB1lC3zU
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15 April - Yahoo: http://au.news.yahoo.com/supermarket-concentration-come-under-microscope-215318326.html
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15 April - MSN: https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/other/plant-suppliers-say-bunnings-pushed-them-into-the-dirt-with-unfair-unprofitable-contracts/ar-BB1lBJet
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15 April - Fool.com: https://www.fool.com.au/2024/04/15/wesfarmers-share-price-drops-1-amid-accusations-of-mafia-like-behaviour/
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15 April - Brisbane times: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/companies/bunnings-grilled-at-supermarket-inquiry-for-squeezing-suppliers-and-shelving-boss-20240415-p5fjzy.html
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15 April - ABC: https://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/the-business/2024-04-15/bunnings-suppliers-break-silence-about-hardware/103711198
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11 April -News.com.au https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/aldi-and-metcash-to-front-senate-grilling-into-supermarket-prices/news-story/1d3b9fb3352b75798481e5e6b8352750
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11 April - The West Australian https://thewest.com.au/business/retail/plant-suppliers-accuse-bunnings-of-unfair-dealings-and-threatening-behaviour-over-price-increase-requests-c-14276753
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10 April - Fool.com: https://www.fool.com.au/2024/04/15/wesfarmers-share-price-drops-1-amid-accusations-of-mafia-like-behaviour/
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10 April - The Australian Business Journal: https://theabj.com.au/2024/04/09/bunnings-fires-back-at-woolworths-in-regulatory-showdown/
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9 April - 9 News: https://www.9news.com.au/national/woolworths-says-new-supermarket-code-should-apply-to-costco-amazon/2b06fa39-08dc-44b6-a3cd-54f9f73af62a
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April 9 - Sydney Morning Herald: https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/everyone-seems-to-be-a-victim-in-the-supermarket-review-20240409-p5fihj.html
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9 April - Sydney Morning Herald: https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/not-a-supermarket-bunnings-rejects-calls-to-be-included-in-grocery-code-20240409-p5figm.html
- 9 April - News.com.au: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/bunnings-warehouse-resists-calls-to-be-included-under-tough-new-grocery-rules/news-story/308d54fdca1c8b40e5cc3f95337c01e4
- 9 April - Sky News: https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/supermarket-code-expansion-causing-tension/video/6ff94eca6a8e926f55330a69d6e57c78
- 8 April - The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/08/emerson-says-breaking-up-supermarkets-too-heavy-handed-as-dutton-derides-mickey-mouse-review#:~:text=The%20architect%20of%20Australia's%20revamped,and%20not%20a%20credible%20threat.
- 8 April - NFF: https://nff.org.au/media-release/exploitive-powers-of-supermarkets-confirmed-with-growers-forced-to-foot-the-bill-while-bunnings-gets-a-free-pass/
- 8 April - Channel News: https://www.channelnews.com.au/is-bunnings-a-monopoly-questions-over-dominance-in-certain-categories/
- 8 April - Australian Financial Review: https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bunnings-may-be-caught-by-tougher-grocery-code-20240407-p5fhz2
March 2024
- 21 March- Tasmanian Country Hour https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/tas-country-hour/tasmanian-country-hour/103592442 (starts at 6:44)
- 21March- ABC Queensland's Country Hour: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/qld-country-hour/queensland-country-hour/103593762
- 18 March- The Australian: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/bunnings-has-been-dragged-into-the-supermarket-price-inquiry/news-story/24af1263bf6ec8c2a23db53cc126ae64
- 14 March - 6PR Perth's article: https://www.6pr.com.au/weve-had-enough-of-bunnings-growers-cry-foul-at-retailers-monopoly/
- 14 March ABC Victoria drive time: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/vic-statewide-drive/drive/103567904 (starts at 2:16:00).
- 14 March - ABC mornings with Rafael Epstein https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-mornings/mornings/103568072 (starts at 1: 18:00)
- 14 March- The New Daily's article: https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2024/03/14/bunnings-greenlife-pricing-monopoly
- 14 March- ABC Landline: https://iview.abc.net.au/video/RF2314Q006S00 (Starts at 18:39)
- 14 March - NT Country Hour: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nt-country-hour/nt-country-hour/103579818 (starts at 24:59)
- 13 March - Jo Cave on ABC’s Country Hour: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nt-country-hour/bunnings-concerns-rasied-by-greenlife-industry-australia/103583256
- 13 March - SBS’s interview with Jo: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/are-the-big-box-retailers-ruining-gardening/zbd9316pc
- 13 March - SBS's article:: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/growers-are-scared-exploitation-fears-spark-bunnings-scrutiny-calls/ya0exgvbw
- 13 March - Head Topics' article: https://headtopics.com/au/growers-are-scared-exploitation-fears-spark-bunnings-49372208
- 13 March - The Wire: https://www.thewire.org.au/story/bunnings-accused-of-unfair-supplier-treatment-in-parliamentary-inquiry/
- 13 March - ABC's article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-13/nursery-growers-want-bunnings-included-in-supermarket-inquiry/103581046
- 13 March - Flora Daily's article: https://www.floraldaily.com/article/9608496/au-plant-nurseries-accuse-bunnings-of-unfair-trading-practices-at-supermarket-inquiry/?utm_medium=email
- 12 March -SBS: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/are-the-big-box-retailers-ruining-gardening/zbd9316pc
- 3 March - SBS Filipino: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/filipino/en/podcast-episode/bunnings-dominance-of-gardening-sector-spurs-calls-for-equal-scrutiny/zylfxn8st
GIA's action
Background
You have likely seen the government and media interest in GIA’s call for the Federal Government to protect greenlife growers from unfair trading practices by including them in the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct and to make the Code mandatory. This would mean that big box retailers like Bunnings would be bound by the code.
On March 12, GIA appeared at the Senate Supermarket Pricing Inquiry. Like farmers supplying supermarkets, greenlife growers are disadvantaged by big box plant retailers’ price setting and associated trading practices.
Growers report unfair treatment from Bunnings, and because there are no meaningful competitors or export markets:
- most professional plant growers must supply Bunnings to remain sustainable
- Bunnings can dictate terms of trade, set prices and control the supply of plants
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growers can’t challenge these arrangements because they fear losing their businesses.
Our submissions
- Submission to the Select Committee on Supermarket Prices: www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/submission-supermarket-pricing-inquiry
- Submission to the Review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct: www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/food-and-grocery-code-submission
More info
- 7 Mau 2024 - Greenlife growers welcome Bunnings’ inclusion in supermarket code recommendations: www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/communications-centre-content/media-release/media-release-bunnings-inclusion-in-supermarket-code
- 18 April 2024 - GIA's media release: Bunnings' market share is 70% - why Bunnings' lowball claim is wrong: https://www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/communications-centre-content/media-release/media-release-bunnings-market-share
- 8 April 2024 – GIA's media release: Growers justified, Bunnings on notice – interim report into supermarket powers https://www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/media-release-growers-justified-bunnings-on-notice-interim-report-into-supermark
- 18 March 2024 – GIA's media release: 67% of growers say Bunnings trade terms not good enough https://www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/communications-centre/media-release-bunnings-trade-terms
- 14 March 2024 – GIA’s media release: Growers need protection from Bunnings and other big box retailers https://www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/communications-centre/media-release-big-box-retailers
- 24 June 2024 - Greenlife growers left out in the cold, but Bunnings is on notice: https://www.greenlifeindustry.com.au/communications-centre-content/media-release/media-release-growers-left-in-cold-bunnings-is-on-notice
Contact
If you’d like to get in touch about this issue, email hello@greenlifeindustry.com.au or call us on 1300 95 95 13.