Media Release

Member for Kennedy Bob Katter said supermarkets that cashed in on produce shortages caused by floods would be dealt with harshly.

He said higher prices were not being passed on to farmers and major supermarkets were using the flood disaster to attempt to open the door for more imported fruit and vegetables.

Mr Katter said he had requested that the government monitor price spreads and profiteering.

"Any price hike is a slap in the face for both growers and consumers," he said.

"The proposal to bring in imports to overcome some temporary shortages would cause permanent damage if not the actual demise of a number of Australia’s agricultural industries.

"Importing produce is the last thing we should be thinking about right now – we should be doing all we can to get Australian farmers back up and running and any price increases should be at the farm gate.

"There are very few farmers in Australia that have not suffered in some way from these floods, which take in South Australia, Victoria, northern NSW and Qld.

"To punish farmers for forever after they have already suffered is unconscionable and major supermarket chains hawking for this should be ashamed of themselves."