Ryan Bridge: The Govt should have fast tracked supermarkets years ago

All good so far from Nicola Willis on supermarkets. 

She's got to the nub of the problem, which is basically red tape.

Governments of all stripes, including her, have been quick to point the finger at private enterprise for high prices.

And there's truth in that, but most haven't looked in the mirror like Willis did yesterday and admit it's them that also has a problem.

We all do, really. 

Everybody moans about prices but then moans about construction of anything new - not in my backyard. 

Consultation up the wazoo, committees, petitions, Duncan Webb on a soapbox - that's democracy. Like Churchill said, the lesser of two evils. 

It's taken them two years to get here, but they could have just listened to our interview with the former Managing Director of Costco back in March - he told us all this then.

The other big problems were real estate prices and shipping - getting goods here on their timeframes. 

I predicted this (humble brag) all last week. They'll tinker round with fast-track and consumer laws and plaster their pressers with the threat of breaking up the duopoly. Divestment. Forcing Pak'nSave to sell some stores to a new entrant, forcing Foodstuffs to sell some distribution centres. 

What I said last week is still true now, ACT won't go for it. 

Plus, the even the Commerce Commission said it's risky as. Cost could outweigh benefits. 

So, Willis should stop with the threats. If you own a supermarket right now and your livelihood is being threatened, are you going to invest? Hire staff? Plan expansions?

The threat is purely political and could end up doing the opposite of what Willis wants it to. 

Put it in the bin.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
All goods so far from Nikola Willison's supermarkets. I reckon
she's got to the nub of the problem, which is
basically red tape. Governments of all stripes, including her, have
been quick to point the finger at private enterprise for
higher prices, and there is truth in that, but most
haven't looked in the mirror like Willis did yesterday and
admit it's them that also has a problem. We all do. Really,

(00:22):
everyone moans about prices, but then moans about construction of
anything new not in my backyard. The whole NIMBI movement,
consultation up, the wazoo committees, petitions, duncan web on a soapbox.
That's democracy. Like Churchill said, the lesser of two evils.
It's taken them two years to get here, but they
could have just listened to our interview with the former

(00:44):
managing director of Costco back in March. Of course, he
told us all of this then, and the other big
problem real estate prices for those wanting to build and
develop and shipping. Getting your goods here to the bottom
of the world on their time frames is another big one,
especially when you're operating at scale like a Costco. We
spoke about this last week. They will tinker around with

(01:07):
the fast track the consumer laws and then plaster their
presses with the threat of breaking up the duopoly, divestment,
forcing your pack and saves you will worse to sell
some of their stores to a new entrant, to a
third entrant, forcing your food stuffs to sell some distribution centers. Maybe,

(01:27):
And what I said last week is still true now
Acts won't go for it, so it's a non starter.
Plus even the ComCom said it's risky as cost could
outweigh benefits. So Willis should stop with the threats. If
you own a supermarket right now and your livelihood is
being threatened, are you going to invest, are you going

(01:49):
to hire staff? Are you going to plan an expansion?
The threat is purely political and could end up doing
the opposite of what Willis wants it to do, So
just put it in the ben already. For more from
Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live to News Talks
it Be from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast

(02:09):
on iHeartRadio.