Just how many how many inquiries does it take to instigate change? On my count there are four either underway or recently completed into supermarkets, with this week seeing the Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices hand down its recommendations.
Allan Fels delivered his sobering report into price gouging and unfair pricing that was commissioned by the ACTU.
Then Dr Craig Emerson delivered an interim report on his review of the Food and Grocery Code Of Conduct, as requested by the PM.
The ACCC is, by all accounts, beavering away on its 12-month investigation, which will undoubtedly cast even more light on some fairly unconscionable behaviour as the cold white, fluorescent lights of running an essential business and making shareholders happy will continue to sear our retinas. Good times.
Four investigations in the space of 12 months. What do you think will come from it and for extra points, how long will it take for changes to be made? Here’s my bet from the cheap seats, the Food & Grocery Code will become mandatory. Next!
Not to be outdone by the supermarkets, manufacturing is also a hot favourite for a panel to rake over, with three federal inquiries in the last three years.
In 2021, during Coalition rule, there was a Senate Standing Committees on Economics inquiry into the Australian manufacturing industry, which made 19 recommendations, delivered in February 2022.
One year later, in the Labor years, the House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources under carried out an inquiry into developing advanced manufacturing in Australia. It handed down its report in November.
How much changed in that 12 month period do you think?
But wait, there’s more. In March this year, House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources launched the Food & Beverage Manufacturing in Australia inquiry.
Granted, it is much more targeted, but enough already with the talky talky.
To ease the heartburn I just caused, some cool news stories this week
A team of scientists at UNSW decided 24 hours for cold brew was just nonsense. So, they rigged up their patented sound transmission system to a bog-standard Breville espresso machine. The result? Cold brew in three minutes.
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep on saying it, God bless nerds.
And meanwhile, nerds in China discovered a connection between the taste of alcohol and the temperature it’s being consumed at that could affect the way beverages are made.
See, all that bloviating about quantum computing this week, this is the work we should be rewarding.
And the New Zealand peanut butter company, Fix & Fogg, wins all the stars this week as three products in its range, packed in 50 purpose built pouches, jettisoned off to the International Space Station (ISS). A NASA astronaut had been given a jar of its peanut butter by a friend, became hooked on it, got the rest of the NASA SpaceX Crew-8 equally enamoured, which ensured it was packed onto the Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket for their six-month stint on the ISS.
Overseas news that caught my eye
The Bezos Earth Fund launched its AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge with up to US$100 million worth of grants to be awarded. Its goal is to see if AI can help address climate change and nature loss. The first round is focused on sustainable proteins, biodiversity conservation, and power grid optimisation – and is open to applications from around the world.
The European Parliament finally approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The CSDDD creates a legal liability for companies relating to environmental and human rights violations within their supply chain.
After Unilever announced it’s going to offload its ice cream business, Reuters reports General Mills is possibly selling its North America yoghurt business – including brand Yoplait – in a deal that could be worth US$2 billion.
Onward.
