Peak grocery body rejects Greens’ $25bn plan to nationalise Coles, Woolies in Mamdani-style move

Key points

• Australia's peak grocery body has rejected a Greens plan to take over more than 200 Coles and Woolworths stores in a $25 billion move. The proposal, put forward by Greens Institute executive director Max Chandler-Mather, was inspired by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan for city-owned grocery stores.
• Greens leader David Shoebridge said the plan would start breaking up the duopoly and could lead to cheaper prices. Australian Food and Grocery Council chief executive Colm Maguire said the focus should instead be on removing barriers and increasing competition.
• The New Zealand Greens have also announced plans to nationalise supermarkets.