The Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA) has congratulated Professor Ian Harper and the Review Board on the recent draft recommendations from the competition review, but has also warned Australians to watch out for a campaign led by big business aimed at maintaining its dominance.
Peter Strong, Chief Executive of COSBOA, said, ‘The draft shows that Minister for Small Business Bruce Billson got the terms of reference right and we applaud him, Professor Harper and his team for all their work so far.
‘We’re pleased to see the review has looked at urban planning and its impact on competition and that the effects test has also remained, although it’s still early days and we are yet to seek clarification on what it will actually mean to small business.
‘We are concerned, however, about the reaction of big business to the proposed effects test. They have overreacted, and unless there’s some underlying issue around their need to dominate through the suppression of competition, we don’t understand their panic,’ said Mr Strong.
Allowing Coles and Woolworths to enter the pharmaceutical market would turn the provision of medicines into a profit-making exercise instead of a health service.
The pharmacy industry is another area of big concern, adds Mr Strong. ‘Allowing Coles and Woolworths to enter the pharmaceutical market would turn the provision of medicines into a profit-making exercise instead of a health service.
‘Pharmacists offer good service and build a relationship with their local community in order to make a living from their business. Coles and Woollies are only interested in profits, not people.
‘Healthy competition should benefit consumers, economic productivity and our culture,’ Mr Strong concluded.
