Greens pitch Zohran Mamdani-style $25.1bn plan to nationalise 200 Coles and Woolworths supermarkets
News Source
β’Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:01:25 GMT
π° What Happened
The Greens are putting forward a $25.1 billion plan to take over more than 200 Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. The idea is to create a government-owned grocery chain.
Former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather leads the party's thinktank, the Greens Institute. He wants to use new forced sale laws to buy major stores and three distribution centres.
The plan also funds 424 new stores, called Fair Go Grocers, and 10 distribution centres. He says shoppers would save up to 22% on an average shop, or about $60 a week for a family of four.
π The Backstory
Food prices have risen sharply in Australia. Shoppers and farmers both complain that the two big supermarkets have too much power.
Chandler-Mather borrowed the idea from New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, who backs publicly owned grocery stores.
A new authority would set prices each month and set minimum rates for suppliers. The plan follows years of debate about supermarket competition.
π― Why It Matters
Grocery bills are a top worry for households. This plan could change where Australians buy food, but it would be costly and hard to pass.
The Greens are putting forward a $25.1 billion plan to take over more than 200 Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. The idea is to create a government-owned grocery chain.
Former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather leads the party's thinktank, the Greens Institute. He wants to use new forced sale laws to buy major stores and three distribution centres.
The plan also funds 424 new stores, called Fair Go Grocers, and 10 distribution centres. He says shoppers would save up to 22% on an average shop, or about $60 a week for a family of four.
Food prices have risen sharply in Australia. Shoppers and farmers both complain that the two big supermarkets have too much power.
Chandler-Mather borrowed the idea from New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, who backs publicly owned grocery stores.
A new authority would set prices each month and set minimum rates for suppliers. The plan follows years of debate about supermarket competition.
Grocery bills are a top worry for households. This plan could change where Australians buy food, but it would be costly and hard to pass.