❓ Hon Anthony Fels asks about government agency submissions regarding Woolworths' acquisition of Action Supermarkets. Minister Kim Chance confirms submissions from the Department of Agriculture, Consumer and Employment Protection, and Industry and Resources, and outlines a plan to challenge the ACCC decision.
AnsweredQoN 809Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of 20 Action Supermarkets Pty Ltd stores from FAL in Western Australia. (1) Is the minister aware of any submission from any government agency, including the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Agriculture, on this matter? (2) If so, what agencies is the minister aware of that have made a submission? The PRESIDENT : The Leader of the House, in respect of those matters that pertain to his portfolio responsibilities. Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
(1) Is the minister aware of any submission from any government agency, including the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Agriculture, on this matter? (2) If so, what agencies is the minister aware of that have made a submission? The PRESIDENT : The Leader of the House, in respect of those matters that pertain to his portfolio responsibilities. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
(2) If so, what agencies is the minister aware of that have made a submission? The PRESIDENT : The Leader of the House, in respect of those matters that pertain to his portfolio responsibilities. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
The PRESIDENT : The Leader of the House, in respect of those matters that pertain to his portfolio responsibilities. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
(1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
(2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
(1) Is the minister aware of any submission from any government agency, including the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Agriculture, on this matter? (2) If so, what agencies is the minister aware of that have made a submission? The PRESIDENT : The Leader of the House, in respect of those matters that pertain to his portfolio responsibilities. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
(2) If so, what agencies is the minister aware of that have made a submission? The PRESIDENT : The Leader of the House, in respect of those matters that pertain to his portfolio responsibilities. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
The PRESIDENT : The Leader of the House, in respect of those matters that pertain to his portfolio responsibilities. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
Thank you, Mr President. I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
(1) The original submission made in August 2005 to the ACCC on the then proposed takeover of 20 Action stores by Woolworths was prepared by the Department of Agriculture - this makes the question relevant to me - for the bipartisan group. Attached to the answer is a list of the members of the group. Apart from me, it included Tony McRae, MLA, parliamentary secretary; Dr Steven Thomas; Hon Paul Omodei; Mr Terry Redman; Mr Trevor De Langrafft, the President of the WA Farmers Federation; Mr Robert McFerran, the then executive officer of the Western Australian Fruit Growers’ Association; Mr Greg Dean of the Western Australian Retail and Small Business Association; and Mr Martin Dempsey, the chief executive officer of the WA Retailers Association. It was signed by me as the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. (2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
(2) I am advised that other submissions were made by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the Department of Industry and Resources. In relation to the ACCC decision to approve Woolworths’ acquisition of all but one - that is, the Spearwood store - of the Action Supermarkets group stores in Western Australia, I intend to write to Mr Graeme Samuel, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I will seek advice on the preparation of this letter from the whole of the bipartisan group as soon as possible. The letter will not simply be a matter of friendly correspondence between Graeme Samuel and me; it is a formal process that will take the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft determination through to a final determination. Although there is no formal or nominal appeal process within the ACCC process, once the draft determination has been released, the ACCC will go into a conference phase. At that point, interested parties will be able to challenge the draft determination.
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