The competition watchdog is trying to expedite Federal Court action against the nation's two supermarket giants for allegedly breaching an agreement to cap fuel discounts.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman Rod Sims says it will be prosecuting Coles and Woolworths for breaching a voluntary agreement made last December to cap fuel shopper dockets at four cents per litre.
A Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday was told the hearing was scheduled for April, but the commission was attempting to expedite proceedings.
Retailers and business groups have congratulated the ACCC for its actions.
The Council of Small Business of Australia executive director Peter Strong said the long term market domination of the duopoly has resulted in embedded unjust behaviours and false expectations within these organisations, which seemingly put them above the law.
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"Obviously it will take some time for those behaviours to change, but it is very heartening to see the ACCC take action to speed up the change process," Mr Strong said in a statement.
The Australian Retailers Association said it had fought hard alongside independent retailers to reach the outcome that was achieved last December.
"Without the ACCC keeping a close eye on this agreement, fair competition would be destroyed, making it virtually impossible for independent retailers to have a fair go," its executive director Russell Zimmerman said in a statement.
