Australia news live: big supermarkets in court showdown with competition watchdog over claims of fake discounts

Court battle begins over Coles’ grocery prices

Jonathan Barrett

A highly anticipated federal court battle between the competition regulator and supermarket giant Coles begins today, testing allegations the retailer offered “illusory” discounts on hundreds of everyday products.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is seeking large penalties and community service orders against Coles, which, along with Woolworths, controls two-thirds of the Australian grocery market.

A similar case against Woolworths is expected to be heard at a later date.

A shopper looks at items displayed on a shelf at at Coles supermarket. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

The 10-day hearing in Melbourne will scrutinise pricing practices involving hundreds of products, from instant coffee to chocolate biscuits, over an extended period.

The regulator alleges that Coles temporarily inflated prices before marking the items as discounted under promotions like “Down Down,” in a practice known as “was/is” pricing.

Coles is defending the claims, arguing pricing was a response to increased costs from suppliers.

The case starts during a period of reigniting inflation, with groceries and other household costs rising strongly again.

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IMF finds Australia managing ‘soft-landing’ on economic recovery

The International Monetary Fund released a report on Sunday saying the Australian economy was managing a “soft landing”, but said inflationary pressures had “re-emerged” in recent months.

The body said the country’s economic recovery is expected to continue in the near-term, but added wage growth is anticipated to moderate further, partially due to weak productivity growth. The IMF said in a statement yesterday:

Executive directors welcomed Australia’s progress toward a soft landing and internal balance, notwithstanding uncertainties regarding residual excess demand and supply capacity in the context of weak productivity growth.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the report was generally good news for the economy, telling RN Breakfast:

It was a very positive report about Australia and about the government’s economic plan, it was a powerful endorsement. … It described our budget management as effective.

Court battle begins over Coles’ grocery prices

A highly anticipated federal court battle between the competition regulator and supermarket giant Coles begins today, testing allegations the retailer offered “illusory” discounts on hundreds of everyday products.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is seeking large penalties and community service orders against Coles, which, along with Woolworths, controls two-thirds of the Australian grocery market.

A similar case against Woolworths is expected to be heard at a later date.

A shopper looks at items displayed on a shelf at at Coles supermarket. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

The 10-day hearing in Melbourne will scrutinise pricing practices involving hundreds of products, from instant coffee to chocolate biscuits, over an extended period.

The regulator alleges that Coles temporarily inflated prices before marking the items as discounted under promotions like “Down Down,” in a practice known as “was/is” pricing.

Coles is defending the claims, arguing pricing was a response to increased costs from suppliers.

The case starts during a period of reigniting inflation, with groceries and other household costs rising strongly again.

Labor releases numbers showing budget would be $14bn worse off under Coalition

The government has released figures that, it says, show the federal budget would be $14bn worse over two years if the Coalition had won the 2025 election.

The figures released by Labor claim those budget deficits would add $22bn to gross debt over the coming decade, resulting in $8.4bn in extra interest payments, based on the Coalition’s costings that were released ahead of the election.

The Coalition’s nuclear plan is not included in the figures.

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says the numbers demonstrate Angus Taylor and the newly elected deputy leader, Jane Hume, “blew up their economic credibility” during the election campaign.

Chalmers said:

Aussie medal party continues with dual moguls bronze

Australian skier Matt Graham bounced back from individual disappointment to add another medal to the one he collected eight years ago in Pyeongchang and continue the Aussie success story at Milan-Cortina, AAP reports.

He became the country’s third moguls medallist at the Games on Sunday. It was Australia’s record-extending fifth medal of the Olympics and was hard-won given Graham’s multiple injuries that have included a fractured neck, collarbone, broken ribs and lung contusions.

Graham clawed his way on to the podium with a win over Japan’s Takuya Shimakawa in the small final, which decided the bronze medal. The Australian outscored his rival 20 to 15. The Canadian all-time great Mikaël Kingsbury won the gold medal after taking silver in the individual.

Good morning

Good morning, and welcome to Monday. Nick Visser here to guide you through the day’s news. Here’s what’s on deck:

The federal court will hold a hearing on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) case against Coles and Woolworths today after the consumer watchdog sued the grocery giants in 2024 over allegations they misled shoppers using “illusory” discounts on hundreds of products. The hearing will take place in Melbourne, with the court noting the ACCC is seeking “a significant penalty” for the alleged breaches of consumer law.

Australia is up to five medals at the Winter Olympics in Milan after skier Matt Graham took home bronze in the new dual moguls events. “This means a lot, the other day was a bit bittersweet, coming fifth when I knew I had enough to get on the podium so today was a bit about redemption, I was fired up,” he told reporters after the achievement.

Stick with us.