New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has been forced to answer questions in parliament about what he asked Australian counterpart Tony Abbott to do about Kiwi products being spurned in supermarkets across the Tasman.
Mr Key met with Mr Abbott in Sydney last Friday but returned home having gained nothing that will result in better treatment of New Zealand produce across the Tasman.
Opposition trade spokesman Phil Goff has asked Mr Key on Tuesday to clarify details about what, if any, action he asked Mr Abbott to take over Woolworths and Coles removing New Zealand-made products from their house brands.
Mr Key said he told Mr Abbott that, while the action being taken by the supermarkets might be legally consistent with the trans-Tasman closer economic relations agreement, he didn't think it was consistent with the spirit of the agreement.
"We agreed that New Zealand firms that have specific concerns should make submissions to Australia's competition watchdog, the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission), and those with wider concerns should engage with the Australian competition policy review," Mr Key said.
Mr Abbott said late last week that Coles and Woolworths were private businesses making commercial decisions, and if anyone had a problem with that they could complain to the ACCC.
The moves being made by Coles and Woolworths to remove New Zealand-made products are part of a vigorous Buy Australia campaign.
