Australia - you're standing in it




Here’s a thought - why support the duopoly of Coles and Woolworths especially when they keep increasing their margins and ruthlessly squeezing suppliers?
Seems like IGA is the only big supermarket chain that has a little bit of heart (or maybe it’s the only way they can compete) and doesn’t endlessly keep trying to increase their margins
Regardless, I’m more than happy to pay a little bit more and shop at IGA rather than be treated with contempt and shop at the big two.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-20/woolworths-coles-accc-supermarket...


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100%. I hate them both and what you pay and what you get is getting worse. The quality of fruit, veg and meat is rubbish. Unless you get things on special you are actually paying more than in other places. My local butcher is expensive but the quality is 3 times better. Other local fruit and veg shops are much better. Or even Harris Farm if you got one, it’s a bit more expensive but quality and choice is miles ahead. Everything else can be bought online for less. Or if not less than the same price but free delivery so one goes to the shop a lot less.
I’ve really cut down my shopping in Coles and Woolies. It’s nearly at zero, I only go there when I travel around and I need something quickly. I rarely spend more than $50.


Lucky there is still plenty of fresh produce about …
&pp=0gcJCfcAhR29_xXO

flollo wrote:100%. I hate them both and what you pay and what you get is getting worse. The quality of fruit, veg and meat is rubbish. Unless you get things on special you are actually paying more than in other places. My local butcher is expensive but the quality is 3 times better. Other local fruit and veg shops are much better. Or even Harris Farm if you got one, it’s a bit more expensive but quality and choice is miles ahead. Everything else can be bought online for less. Or if not less than the same price but free delivery so one goes to the shop a lot less.
I’ve really cut down my shopping in Coles and Woolies. It’s nearly at zero, I only go there when I travel around and I need something quickly. I rarely spend more than $50.
Yeah I haven't shopped at either for years apart from the odd foray into South Grafton Coles.
Such a shame that market concentration is rife in Australia - banks, groceries, hardware, alcohol, airports, energy, communications...
And of course there's politics :)


AndyM wrote:flollo wrote:100%. I hate them both and what you pay and what you get is getting worse. The quality of fruit, veg and meat is rubbish. Unless you get things on special you are actually paying more than in other places. My local butcher is expensive but the quality is 3 times better. Other local fruit and veg shops are much better. Or even Harris Farm if you got one, it’s a bit more expensive but quality and choice is miles ahead. Everything else can be bought online for less. Or if not less than the same price but free delivery so one goes to the shop a lot less.
I’ve really cut down my shopping in Coles and Woolies. It’s nearly at zero, I only go there when I travel around and I need something quickly. I rarely spend more than $50.
Yeah I haven't shopped at either for years apart from the odd foray into South Grafton Coles.
Such a shame that market concentration is rife in Australia - banks, groceries, hardware, alcohol, airports, energy, communications...
And of course there's politics :)
Woolies and Coles price gouge, exploit workers, hate unions, and negatively impact farmers while their CEO gets 2.15 million dollars a year. It's practically a moral obligation to shoplift from them as often as possible.


For meat, I'll generally buy direct from the farm. Quarter, half or whole (cow, lamb and/or pork). Nothing beats the quality and price. If you don't know anyone, they are online everywhere these days and will generally deliver too.
I try and get to the farmers markets for fresh veges, generally whatever is in season.
Places like Cambells or Aldi for dry goods.


fitzroy-21 wrote:For meat, I'll generally buy direct from the farm. Quarter, half or whole (cow, lamb and/or pork). Nothing beats the quality and price. If you don't know anyone, they are online everywhere these days and will generally deliver too.
I try and get to the farmers markets for fresh veges, generally whatever is in season.
Places like Cambells or Aldi for dry goods.
Aldi is the go if you have one around. No shitty supermarket music pumped into your head, and no one hundred of every item faffing up your experience by instilling indecision.


"It's practically a moral obligation to shoplift from them as often as possible."
As John Schumann from the band Redgum wrote,
"It's a form of reprisal, a song of survival
Keep your morals intact
Don't be naive, you're stealing from thieves
It's a matter of tact
Just don't let yourself get caught in the act"


Even if you do get caught in the act, just say "you got me" and walk out.


I'd rather not play that game in a small town.


AndyM wrote:I'd rather not play that game in a small town.
Valid.


@Burleigh
Burls you're a very cynical of mainstream media and fair enough too.
So just wondering what you make of what could be called manufactured anti-semitism which has been prevalent for a while now.


AndyM wrote:@Burleigh
Burls you're a very cynical of mainstream media and fair enough too.
So just wondering what you make of what could be called manufactured anti-semitism which has been prevalent for a while now.
Im not sure what you mean my manufactured?
If you are referring to the Caravan bomb plot, the plot to bomb was not real, but those behind it had clear antisemitic motivations to create fear in the Jewish community.
The man police are after is an Arab man (lived in Turkey so assume possibly Turkish) Sayit Erhan Akca and had been involved in other criminal activities like drug smuggling
Even Asios see it as a realm threat.
"Antisemitism now Asio’s ‘number one priority’,"
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/25/australia-ne...
There is no need to manufacture anything, anti semitism is clearly a big problem , it has always been a problem in some areas like on the far right, but what is now different is the far left (horse shoe effect in action) are now just as bad or even worse.



indo-dreaming wrote:AndyM wrote:@Burleigh
Burls you're a very cynical of mainstream media and fair enough too.
So just wondering what you make of what could be called manufactured anti-semitism which has been prevalent for a while now.Im not sure what you mean my manufactured?
If you are referring to the Caravan bomb plot, the plot to bomb was not real, but those behind it had clear antisemitic motivations to create fear in the Jewish community.
The man police are after is an Arab man (lived in Turkey so assume possibly Turkish) Sayit Erhan Akca and had been involved in other criminal activities like drug smuggling
Even Asios see it as a realm threat.
"Antisemitism now Asio’s ‘number one priority’,"
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/25/australia-ne...There is no need to manufacture anything, anti semitism is clearly a big problem , it has always been a problem in some areas like on the far right, but what is now different is the far left (horse shoe effect in action) are now just as bad or even worse.
BULLSHIT!


Yep.
Manufactured and produced and edited.
Invented and imagined too.
All part of the fabrication front that ain’t so friendly ;)
&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD


I knew there was a price difference between the US & OZ but this is ridiculous .


Supafreak wrote:I knew there was a price difference between the US & OZ but this is ridiculous . https://www.instagram.com/p/DH9s9_PSLYd/?igsh=MThhcmphYmlxMXNpMQ==
Insane ey....


What’s insane is if people vote LNP . Spud would love to cut his own chainsaw way through government spending and you can bet PBS would be up there at the top of his list . How’s spud doing BTW . https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal...


Time for a change imo. Dutton would make an ok PM. ALP have zero leadership currently.
A hopeless bunch of losers… much like the LNP but some new thinking is needed.


Supafreak wrote:What’s insane is if people vote LNP . Spud would love to cut his own chainsaw way through government spending and you can bet PBS would be up there at the top of his list . How’s spud doing BTW . https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal...
Morrison was a disaster, reckon Dutton the inside trader would out do Scomo....


andy-mac wrote:Supafreak wrote:What’s insane is if people vote LNP . Spud would love to cut his own chainsaw way through government spending and you can bet PBS would be up there at the top of his list . How’s spud doing BTW . https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal...
Morrison was a disaster, reckon Dutton the inside trader would out do Scomo....
Enjoy your mentawai & bali tip Andy, looks like some nice swell over coming weeks .


Roadkill wrote:Time for a change imo. Dutton would make an ok PM. ALP have zero leadership currently.
A hopeless bunch of losers… much like the LNP but some new thinking is needed.
What “ new thinking “ do you believe the LNP will bring to the table ? Genuinely interested in your thoughts on this .


Supafreak wrote:andy-mac wrote:Supafreak wrote:What’s insane is if people vote LNP . Spud would love to cut his own chainsaw way through government spending and you can bet PBS would be up there at the top of his list . How’s spud doing BTW . https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal...
Morrison was a disaster, reckon Dutton the inside trader would out do Scomo....
Enjoy your mentawai & bali tip Andy, looks like some nice swell over coming weeks .
Cheers supa....
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/04/breaking-with-the-...


Supafreak wrote:Roadkill wrote:Time for a change imo. Dutton would make an ok PM. ALP have zero leadership currently.
A hopeless bunch of losers… much like the LNP but some new thinking is needed.What “ new thinking “ do you believe the LNP will bring to the table ? Genuinely interested in your thoughts on this .
I don’t know exactly what, but it would not be what the ALP are thinking. New blood will always make changes. And the ALP are stale same old same old.


Roadkill wrote:Supafreak wrote:Roadkill wrote:Time for a change imo. Dutton would make an ok PM. ALP have zero leadership currently.
A hopeless bunch of losers… much like the LNP but some new thinking is needed.What “ new thinking “ do you believe the LNP will bring to the table ? Genuinely interested in your thoughts on this .
I don’t know exactly what, but it would not be what the ALP are thinking. New blood will always make changes. And the ALP are stale same old same old.
Dutts is far from new blood though. And let's be honest.... he's not very honest. Not that many of them are but sheesh the LNP's historic policies are the cause of many of our current issues, and the dishonesty is obvious.


soggydog wrote:Roadkill wrote:Supafreak wrote:Roadkill wrote:Time for a change imo. Dutton would make an ok PM. ALP have zero leadership currently.
A hopeless bunch of losers… much like the LNP but some new thinking is needed.What “ new thinking “ do you believe the LNP will bring to the table ? Genuinely interested in your thoughts on this .
I don’t know exactly what, but it would not be what the ALP are thinking. New blood will always make changes. And the ALP are stale same old same old.
Dutts is far from new blood though. And let's be honest.... he's not very honest. Not that many of them are but sheesh the LNP's historic policies are the cause of many of our current issues, and the dishonesty is obvious.
Sounds pretty much like the? ALP.
Both are pretty much the same. A bunch of unremarkable people with very little ability.


@roadkill , so you don’t mind if the renewables are wound back , coal keeps burning , public servants replaced with private companies ( that worked out well. ) education funding for private schools larger than public schools etc etc etc . Numerous royal commissions which then aren’t acted upon with the recommendations put forward. Labor can and will do better and are streets ahead of the LNP . IMO. Plus we won’t have to mend relationships with pacific neighbours that spud will destroy .


Supafreak wrote:@roadkill , so you don’t mind if the renewables are wound back , coal keeps burning , public servants replaced with private companies ( that worked out well. ) education funding for private schools larger than public schools etc etc etc . Numerous royal commissions which then aren’t acted upon with the recommendations put forward. Labor can and will do better and are streets ahead of the LNP . IMO. Plus we won’t have to mend relationships with pacific neighbours that spud will destroy .
Yeah sure there is difference but the reality is the difference between the two is not as big in some areas as people like you make out, its more the talk that's the difference.
For example
Under nine years of LNP Australia had some of the fastest rate's of renewable uptake in the world and per capita become number one in the world for roof top solar.
2019 article
"Australia is the runaway global leader in building new renewable energy"
https://theconversation.com/australia-is-the-runaway-global-leader-in-bu...
And yeah a lot of it was because of state governments often Labor, but it still goes against your narrative, it still happened.
But even state governments often dont follow your narrative for instance under Labor in Victoria in 2021 Labor introduced a tax on EVs based on KM driven (but court's over ruled it)
"The High Court has overruled Victoria's road user charge, but could EV drivers still be taxed?"
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-19/owners-taxed-electric-vehicle-lev...
Meanwhile during the same era when LNP were in power in NSW they had a scheme encouraging EV's purchases with a $3,000 rebate. (and a couple hundred million in other related things in the scheme, google it)
And then under Labor the EV purchase rebate was scrapped. (money put into other areas like recharge stations etc)
In regard to coal.
You are kidding yourself thinking there is going to be that much difference in when coal fired power stations go off line, its got more to do with when we can actually have the energy to replace it to do so, or just how long we can physical run them, most have set decommission dates
And then Adani, well it happened and was supported by a Labor state government
In regard to gas, its the same deal they aren't that far apart, before the election Labor were all Green and anti gas and then they got in and reality hit i guess.
"New gasfields are key to the Albanese government strategy. Climate groups say this will be ‘devastating’ to emissions reduction targets"
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/09/labor-alb...
Difference yes, but not as much as some make out.


You only mentioned energy in your post @indo .


Supafreak wrote:@roadkill , so you don’t mind if the renewables are wound back , coal keeps burning , public servants replaced with private companies ( that worked out well. ) education funding for private schools larger than public schools etc etc etc . Numerous royal commissions which then aren’t acted upon with the recommendations put forward. Labor can and will do better and are streets ahead of the LNP . IMO. Plus we won’t have to mend relationships with pacific neighbours that spud will destroy .
Time for change…ALP are well past their use-by-date.


reckon it is time to play possum, stick with Labor until we see what the fuck is going on 'over there'.. I admit it is quite edge-of-seat, the efforts Peter Dutton is going to to be monotone drab and unengaging.. and that weird awkward lip curl he did by way of a smile in the Peter/Peta interview left me wanting more. But nah, now's not the time for speculative games and indulgences. And fuck our medical system.


I saw that speed change b6
You are not worthy. Apparently. I reckon you’re alright for a shifty carrot cake no matter what others say


ha, which one/ slow edits tonight.. watching 'a time to kill'..


I see "carrot cake" alot here, Seedsy. Specially from you. Whats it mean?


I had to ask him that.
it's his alternative to the word 'cunt'
partly to keep it off the front page, and partly in an effort to smarten ourselves up a bit : )
(iview ABC Entertains @seeds)


Is that Bond?
Or that Samuel J (and was it) McConaughey movie


It’s not Aussie @Waxxy
It’s just me.


ps it was being overused by me.


seeds wrote:ps it was being overused by me.
Get this out of yer head, I dare ya.


Jesus, that went weird at 0:42, haha. ^ they had me till then. It is a weird cake.


I like big carrot cakes and i cannot lie. You other brothers can't deny..... (Insert virtual musical emoji where ya want)
(it is maybe my fave cake... cept for all the other cakes, i mean)


^ from the land of pumpkin pies!
what a weird ingredient..
a real pie has ground up mammals in it!
(and is pronounced 'poi' by the way).


Poi?? Isn't that some pasty, yogurt-y, Hawaiian dish? I like the pumpkin pie mostly for the whipped cream that ya trad put on top. At times, in extremis, i'll opt for the can of whipped cream, sans pie. Truth be told.


Who woulda thought?
It really really happened that way.
Ye of little faith!!!
The "I can't believe it's not politics" thread.