Here’s a letter published in The Land from newsagent Rod King at Bingara, making his case on supermarkets and lotteries. I’m glad Rod wrote the letter and that The Land published it for the argument it makes about excessing supermarket power in Australia. The reach of Coles and Woolworths is, as I understand it, greater than most other supermarket groups in the western world.
While I understand Rod’s argument, it is another example of talking down the channel and that, to me, is a big risk. If Australia really would lose half its rural newsagents in supermarkets got lotteries then the channel is in serious trouble. Surviving on the back of a single product category is no plan for the future in my view.
On the matter of politicians, the party which has consistently spoken out against Coles and Woolworths is The Greens. You can see their position here.
If your newsagency is one that would close if the supermarkets got lotteries, act now, exert your own control over your future, own it.