March 23, 2025 • 10 mins
A year-long inquiry into supermarket pricing has concluded in nearly two dozen recommendations, but what does it mean for your weekly food shop?
Plus, we're unpacking the growing trend of sologamy, where people are choosing to tie the knot without a partner in sight.
Also in today's news headlines Treasurer Jim Chalmers announces a $150 energy bill rebate ahead of tomorrow's budget; An Israeli air-strike has reportedly killed the leader of Hamas ad his wife as the death toll in Gaza now exceeds 50,000; The Pope has returned to the Vatican after spending 5 weeks in hospital suffering double pneumonia; Snoop Dog says he wants to act as a peacemaker between feuding princes William and Harry
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Hosts: Taylah Strano & Claire Murphy
Executive Producer: Taylah Strano
Audio Producer: Lu Hill
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
You're listening to a Muma Mea podcast. Mumma Mea acknowledges
the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast
is recorded on.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hey, I'm Taylor Strano. This is Mumma MEA's twice daily
news podcast, The Quickie.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The verdict is in.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
After months of investigation, the a Triple C has released
its final report into Australia's supermarket sector. So what does
it mean for you and your weekly food shop? Plus,
we're looking into the growing trend of sologamy. That's people
who are choosing to marry themselves. Before we get there,
Here's Clare Murphy with the latest from the Quickie newsroom
for Monday March twenty four.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Thanks Taylor. The federal budget will be handed down tomorrow,
the Albanezi government using it to springboard into their election campaign,
which is said to be dominated by cost of living pressures.
Both the major parties are promising to make Australians better off,
with Labor focusing on healthcare and the Coalition slamming the
government for increases in power bills and grocery prices. Of
(01:09):
his fourth budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced a one
hundred and fifty dollars energy bill rebate divided equally over
the final two quarters of twenty twenty five to help
ease some of that financial pressure. Doctor Chalmers has denied
it's a pre election bribe for votes, saying he would
describe it as a government responding to the pressures that
people still feel despite the progress they've made on inflation.
(01:32):
Tomorrow's budget is expected to reveal that Labour has saved
and reprioritized ninety five billion dollars over its term, including
cutting two point one billion dollars in consultants as more
money is put back into the public service. And Israeli
airstrike has reportedly killed Hamas leader Salah Albadwill and his wife,
as the death toll from the war in Gaza now
(01:52):
exceeds fifty thousand after two months of relative kalm has
phased one of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel
saw many hostages and prisoners swapped as fighting halted. Gazans
are again fleeing for their lives after Israel effectively abandoned
the deal, launching a you all out air ground campaign.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin nettan Yahoo, who has said repeatedly
(02:14):
that their aim is to annihilate Hamas says this new
campaign aims to force the group to give up the
remaining hostages. After five weeks in hospital, Pope Francis has
returned to the Vatican. The eighty eight year old made
his first public appearance since February on the balcony of
the hospital before heading home. His face appeared swollen and
there were bandages visible on both his arms, but he
(02:35):
was breathing on his own without needing to use oxygen.
He's been battling double pneumonia, his doctor saying while he's
now stable enough to send home, he's still on bed
rest as it will take some time for his aging
body to fully heal, ordering him to avoid large, stressful meetings.
Hundreds gathered at the hospital to see the pontiff's appearance.
The Pope speaking briefly to a seventy nine year old
(02:56):
woman in the crowd, thanking her for coming to visit him,
as he blessed those gathered below. Raffer Snoop Dogg has
revealed that he wants to help mend the rift between
the royal brothers, saying he's known both Harry and William
for a long time and would be happy to act
as a peacemaker between them. Snoop says Harry asked him
to perform at William's bachelor party, but he couldn't make it,
(03:17):
saying anything they want him to perform at now he's there.
Snoop says they're brothers. Anything that gets them in the
same room and being brothers again will be worth it,
going on to say that life is too short to
not make things right, telling the Sunday Mirror, if Snoop
can help heal that relationship, then let's do it.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Thanks Claire. Next, what the soupermarket inquiry means for you.
For years now, many Aussies have suspected something wasn't quite
right at the checkout prices seem to keep climbing even
as supermarkets.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Reported record profits.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Last week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission confirmed these suspicions,
delivering a final report after its Yellong inquiry into the
supermarket sector. The verdict Australia's major soupermarkets are among the
most profitable grocery retailers in the world, increasing their profit
margins even during the cost.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Of living crisis.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
The a Triple C found that Coals and Wowartz have
so much power that they simply don't even need to
compete hard on price. Together, these two giants control sixty
seven percent of Australia's grocery market, with Woolies holding thirty
eight percent and Coals at twenty nine percent. The report
revealed that while the soupermarkets have been finding ways to
(04:35):
cut their own costs, they haven't been passing those savings
onto us the shoppers. In fact, both the majors have
actually increased their margins on branded products over the past
five years, with Woolies showing a more significant increase, so
even opting for the sometimes cheaper home brand options have
become more costly. The report also found that suppliers, particularly
(04:57):
those providing fresh produce like fruit and veggies, are essentially
at the mercy of the big two. Many suppliers reported
fears of retribution if they raise concerns about their treatment
by the soupermarkets. So what's to be done about all
of this? The a Triple C has made twenty recommendations
to address the lack of competition in the sector. These
(05:18):
include things like making prices clearer for shoppers, particularly when
packaging sizes change, and requiring soupermarkets to be more transparent
with suppliers about how they negotiate prices. The watchdog has
also called for reforms to planning and zoning laws to
make it easier for new competitors to enter the market,
and a review of Coals and Willard's loyalty programs, which
(05:39):
have been described as ambiguous and confusing. So while the
report didn't go as far as recommending that the big
two supermarkets be broken up, that's something that the Nationals
and the Greens have called for, it did note that
new merger laws will give the a Triple C more
power to scrutinize future acquisitions by the major players. In response,
(06:00):
the federal government has committed two point nine million dollars
over three years in the forthcoming federal budget to help
suppliers stand up to the big supermarket.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
So what does this.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Mean for our weekly shop? While the recommendations themselves don't
immediately lower prices, increased scrutiny and potential regulatory changes could
eventually lead to more competition and better deals for consumers.
In the meantime, experts suggest shopping around where possible and
being weary of special deals that might not be as
special as they seem. The allure of the yellow price
(06:34):
reduction sticker. Who can possibly resist now? From supermarket monopolies
to marrying yourself? Yes, we really do cover everything on
a Monday. It seems that sologamy is on the rise.
That's the act of tying the nott solo Mummamie is
we can. Writer Katie Powers reports.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Self marriage. It's a concept you might have heard of
but probably never really understood. It's called sologamy. That's the
act of marrying yourself, and it's becoming increasingly popular around
the world, though it remains virtually unheard of in Australia.
I've met someone who did, in fact marry herself. Fifty
nine year old Robbie is a wedding celebrant who, after
the breakdown of a twenty year relationship, decided to tie
(07:16):
the knot with herself. Robbie's journey to self marriage began
after a series of disappointing dating experiences following her long
term relationship ending. Despite having three children from that relationship,
she found herself deeply lonely and searching for connection.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
I got quite depressed and was diagnosed with anticipatory grief.
It was that grief of if I never find somebody
who's going to be my person, who will I spend
the rest of my life with.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
After studying, counseling and practicing gratitude, Robbie had a life
changing revelation.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
I discovered the problem. It was that I didn't love
myself and my entire life. I had spent looking to
others to validate my self worth. But when I learned
to love myself, that feeling of oh, I must find
someone that just went away.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
The idea to actually marry herself came during a conversation
with her sister. Robbie jokingly suggested it, and her sister
encouraged her to go ahead. So in twenty twenty one,
just before COVID lockdowns began, Robbie held a ceremony in
her garden with four friends and her daughters in attendance.
Robbi stood in front of a full length mirror and
recited vows to herself.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
I vow to remember that I am responsible for my
own happiness and to practice loving kindness and compassion towards myself.
I vowed to see the best in myself even when
I'm feeling down on myself. Feeling conflicted and doubtful. I
vow to open my heart and blanket myself with self
acceptance for all those parts of me that I disown
(08:48):
and don't like.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
She brought herself a gold ring, which she wears on
her pinky finger like a promise. The following year, once
lockdowns had lifted, Robbie even took herself on a honeymoon
to Port Douglas. She now celebrates her anniversary each year.
But not everyone understood Robbie's decision.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
At first.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
My mother thought I was mad she didn't come to
my ceremony, but that's She's in her eighties. She is
my biggest supporter. Now she doesn't really get it, but
she can see that I'm really happy.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Some friends were confused too, with one asking if she'd
need to divorce herself if she met someone new. The
answer is obviously no. Soulogamy is purely symbolic, with no
legal status in Australia, and Robbie hasn't necessarily closed the
door on future relationships. What's changed for Robbie is her
approach to relationships, Discovering that hanging onto relationships long after
(09:37):
red flags began to pop up was simply because she
was seeking validation of her self work. Robbie has since
begun offering sologamy ceremonies to others, though so far only
to people overseas. Naturally, slogamy has its critics. Some people
dismiss it as narcissistic or pointless. When people question why
she needed a ceremony at all, Robbie turns the question
(09:57):
back on traditional marriage.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Well, I could say the same thing about couples. Why
have the dress and the flowers and spend thirty thousand
dollars on your wedding?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
For Robbie, the journey to self marriage has been transformative.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
For so many years, I just thought I had to
find someone. I felt desperate internally. Now I've done a
complete one eighty. But I think this is how it
was always meant to be single at heart. I think
the most important relationship that we have in our lives
is the one that we have with ourselves.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Thanks for taking some time to feed your mind with
us today. The Quikie is produced by me Taylor Strano,
and Claire Murphy, with audio production by Lou Hill
You're listening to a Muma Mea podcast. Mumma Mea acknowledges
the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast
is recorded on.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hey, I'm Taylor Strano. This is Mumma MEA's twice daily
news podcast, The Quickie.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
The verdict is in.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
After months of investigation, the a Triple C has released
its final report into Australia's supermarket sector. So what does
it mean for you and your weekly food shop? Plus,
we're looking into the growing trend of sologamy. That's people
who are choosing to marry themselves. Before we get there,
Here's Clare Murphy with the latest from the Quickie newsroom
for Monday March twenty four.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Thanks Taylor. The federal budget will be handed down tomorrow,
the Albanezi government using it to springboard into their election campaign,
which is said to be dominated by cost of living pressures.
Both the major parties are promising to make Australians better off,
with Labor focusing on healthcare and the Coalition slamming the
government for increases in power bills and grocery prices. Of
(01:09):
his fourth budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced a one
hundred and fifty dollars energy bill rebate divided equally over
the final two quarters of twenty twenty five to help
ease some of that financial pressure. Doctor Chalmers has denied
it's a pre election bribe for votes, saying he would
describe it as a government responding to the pressures that
people still feel despite the progress they've made on inflation.
(01:32):
Tomorrow's budget is expected to reveal that Labour has saved
and reprioritized ninety five billion dollars over its term, including
cutting two point one billion dollars in consultants as more
money is put back into the public service. And Israeli
airstrike has reportedly killed Hamas leader Salah Albadwill and his wife,
as the death toll from the war in Gaza now
(01:52):
exceeds fifty thousand after two months of relative kalm has
phased one of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel
saw many hostages and prisoners swapped as fighting halted. Gazans
are again fleeing for their lives after Israel effectively abandoned
the deal, launching a you all out air ground campaign.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin nettan Yahoo, who has said repeatedly
(02:14):
that their aim is to annihilate Hamas says this new
campaign aims to force the group to give up the
remaining hostages. After five weeks in hospital, Pope Francis has
returned to the Vatican. The eighty eight year old made
his first public appearance since February on the balcony of
the hospital before heading home. His face appeared swollen and
there were bandages visible on both his arms, but he
(02:35):
was breathing on his own without needing to use oxygen.
He's been battling double pneumonia, his doctor saying while he's
now stable enough to send home, he's still on bed
rest as it will take some time for his aging
body to fully heal, ordering him to avoid large, stressful meetings.
Hundreds gathered at the hospital to see the pontiff's appearance.
The Pope speaking briefly to a seventy nine year old
(02:56):
woman in the crowd, thanking her for coming to visit him,
as he blessed those gathered below. Raffer Snoop Dogg has
revealed that he wants to help mend the rift between
the royal brothers, saying he's known both Harry and William
for a long time and would be happy to act
as a peacemaker between them. Snoop says Harry asked him
to perform at William's bachelor party, but he couldn't make it,
(03:17):
saying anything they want him to perform at now he's there.
Snoop says they're brothers. Anything that gets them in the
same room and being brothers again will be worth it,
going on to say that life is too short to
not make things right, telling the Sunday Mirror, if Snoop
can help heal that relationship, then let's do it.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Thanks Claire. Next, what the soupermarket inquiry means for you.
For years now, many Aussies have suspected something wasn't quite
right at the checkout prices seem to keep climbing even
as supermarkets.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Reported record profits.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Last week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission confirmed these suspicions,
delivering a final report after its Yellong inquiry into the
supermarket sector. The verdict Australia's major soupermarkets are among the
most profitable grocery retailers in the world, increasing their profit
margins even during the cost.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Of living crisis.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
The a Triple C found that Coals and Wowartz have
so much power that they simply don't even need to
compete hard on price. Together, these two giants control sixty
seven percent of Australia's grocery market, with Woolies holding thirty
eight percent and Coals at twenty nine percent. The report
revealed that while the soupermarkets have been finding ways to
(04:35):
cut their own costs, they haven't been passing those savings
onto us the shoppers. In fact, both the majors have
actually increased their margins on branded products over the past
five years, with Woolies showing a more significant increase, so
even opting for the sometimes cheaper home brand options have
become more costly. The report also found that suppliers, particularly
(04:57):
those providing fresh produce like fruit and veggies, are essentially
at the mercy of the big two. Many suppliers reported
fears of retribution if they raise concerns about their treatment
by the soupermarkets. So what's to be done about all
of this? The a Triple C has made twenty recommendations
to address the lack of competition in the sector. These
(05:18):
include things like making prices clearer for shoppers, particularly when
packaging sizes change, and requiring soupermarkets to be more transparent
with suppliers about how they negotiate prices. The watchdog has
also called for reforms to planning and zoning laws to
make it easier for new competitors to enter the market,
and a review of Coals and Willard's loyalty programs, which
(05:39):
have been described as ambiguous and confusing. So while the
report didn't go as far as recommending that the big
two supermarkets be broken up, that's something that the Nationals
and the Greens have called for, it did note that
new merger laws will give the a Triple C more
power to scrutinize future acquisitions by the major players. In response,
(06:00):
the federal government has committed two point nine million dollars
over three years in the forthcoming federal budget to help
suppliers stand up to the big supermarket.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
So what does this.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Mean for our weekly shop? While the recommendations themselves don't
immediately lower prices, increased scrutiny and potential regulatory changes could
eventually lead to more competition and better deals for consumers.
In the meantime, experts suggest shopping around where possible and
being weary of special deals that might not be as
special as they seem. The allure of the yellow price
(06:34):
reduction sticker. Who can possibly resist now? From supermarket monopolies
to marrying yourself? Yes, we really do cover everything on
a Monday. It seems that sologamy is on the rise.
That's the act of tying the nott solo Mummamie is
we can. Writer Katie Powers reports.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Self marriage. It's a concept you might have heard of
but probably never really understood. It's called sologamy. That's the
act of marrying yourself, and it's becoming increasingly popular around
the world, though it remains virtually unheard of in Australia.
I've met someone who did, in fact marry herself. Fifty
nine year old Robbie is a wedding celebrant who, after
the breakdown of a twenty year relationship, decided to tie
(07:16):
the knot with herself. Robbie's journey to self marriage began
after a series of disappointing dating experiences following her long
term relationship ending. Despite having three children from that relationship,
she found herself deeply lonely and searching for connection.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
I got quite depressed and was diagnosed with anticipatory grief.
It was that grief of if I never find somebody
who's going to be my person, who will I spend
the rest of my life with.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
After studying, counseling and practicing gratitude, Robbie had a life
changing revelation.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
I discovered the problem. It was that I didn't love
myself and my entire life. I had spent looking to
others to validate my self worth. But when I learned
to love myself, that feeling of oh, I must find
someone that just went away.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
The idea to actually marry herself came during a conversation
with her sister. Robbie jokingly suggested it, and her sister
encouraged her to go ahead. So in twenty twenty one,
just before COVID lockdowns began, Robbie held a ceremony in
her garden with four friends and her daughters in attendance.
Robbi stood in front of a full length mirror and
recited vows to herself.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
I vow to remember that I am responsible for my
own happiness and to practice loving kindness and compassion towards myself.
I vowed to see the best in myself even when
I'm feeling down on myself. Feeling conflicted and doubtful. I
vow to open my heart and blanket myself with self
acceptance for all those parts of me that I disown
(08:48):
and don't like.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
She brought herself a gold ring, which she wears on
her pinky finger like a promise. The following year, once
lockdowns had lifted, Robbie even took herself on a honeymoon
to Port Douglas. She now celebrates her anniversary each year.
But not everyone understood Robbie's decision.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
At first.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
My mother thought I was mad she didn't come to
my ceremony, but that's She's in her eighties. She is
my biggest supporter. Now she doesn't really get it, but
she can see that I'm really happy.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Some friends were confused too, with one asking if she'd
need to divorce herself if she met someone new. The
answer is obviously no. Soulogamy is purely symbolic, with no
legal status in Australia, and Robbie hasn't necessarily closed the
door on future relationships. What's changed for Robbie is her
approach to relationships, Discovering that hanging onto relationships long after
(09:37):
red flags began to pop up was simply because she
was seeking validation of her self work. Robbie has since
begun offering sologamy ceremonies to others, though so far only
to people overseas. Naturally, slogamy has its critics. Some people
dismiss it as narcissistic or pointless. When people question why
she needed a ceremony at all, Robbie turns the question
(09:57):
back on traditional marriage.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Well, I could say the same thing about couples. Why
have the dress and the flowers and spend thirty thousand
dollars on your wedding?
Speaker 3 (10:06):
For Robbie, the journey to self marriage has been transformative.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
For so many years, I just thought I had to
find someone. I felt desperate internally. Now I've done a
complete one eighty. But I think this is how it
was always meant to be single at heart. I think
the most important relationship that we have in our lives
is the one that we have with ourselves.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Thanks for taking some time to feed your mind with
us today. The Quikie is produced by me Taylor Strano,
and Claire Murphy, with audio production by Lou Hill
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