A West Australian Liberal senator has raised questions about whether competition laws were breached after an incident involving a team of Woolworths employees visiting a nearby independent IGA store in Perth. Senator Dean Smith pressed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) at Senate estimates last week regarding the regulator’s investigation into the matter, which remains unresolved six weeks after the event.

The incident involved more than a dozen Woolworths staff, in uniform, attending the Taylors Road IGA owned by Rita and James Kelly in Nedlands. The Kellys lodged a complaint with the ACCC alleging anticompetitive conduct. However, Senator Smith noted during the parliamentary committee that the watchdog had yet to confirm whether Woolworths had been formally approached about the incident until recently.

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb told the estimates hearing the commission was “continuing to monitor and consider concerns” and had initiated inquiries related to the behaviour of Woolworths’ staff, including assessing the claims brought by the Kellys. Despite this, Senator Smith expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation, emphasizing that establishing the facts should not take four to six weeks. He said he had personally visited the IGA store and spoken with the owners to understand the situation quickly.

Senator Smith also reported difficulty engaging with Woolworths, describing an “unsatisfactory response” after attempting to contact Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell. Requests for Woolworths’ internal review of the incident were reportedly met with limited cooperation. During the hearing, the senator indicated that Woolworths had acknowledged the event “fell short of standards.”

Rita Kelly confirmed she had provided a statement to ACCC investigators and expressed hope the matter would proceed. She said the ACCC had inquired whether she had contacted Woolworths directly, to which she replied no, citing uncertainty over whom to approach at the supermarket chain. Both Senator Smith and local member for Nedlands, Jonathon Huston, have reached out to the Kellys to offer support.

The Kellys described business challenges exacerbated by the Woolworths store’s presence, noting a decline in turnover. The competitive pressure is compounded by a 40 percent increase in electricity prices, which threatens the viability of their operation. The independent grocers supply around 300 local wholesalers who rely on their business, highlighting the wider impact on local suppliers amid growing financial strain.