Ryan Bridge: The Govt should have fast tracked supermarkets years ago

All good so far from Nicola Willis on supermarkets.

She's got to the nub of the problem, which is basically red tape.

Governments of all stripes, including her, have been quick to point the finger at private enterprise for high prices.

And there's truth in that, but most haven't looked in the mirror like Willis did yesterday and admit it's them that also has a problem.

We all do, really.

Everybody moans about prices but then moans about construction of anything new - not in my backyard.

Consultation up the wazoo, committees, petitions, Duncan Webb on a soapbox - that's democracy. Like Churchill said, the lesser of two evils.

It's taken them two years to get here, but they could have just listened to our interview with the former Managing Director of Costco back in March - he told us all this then.

The other big problems were real estate prices and shipping - getting goods here on their timeframes.

I predicted this (humble brag) all last week. They'll tinker round with fast-track and consumer laws and plaster their pressers with the threat of breaking up the duopoly. Divestment. Forcing Pak'nSave to sell some stores to a new entrant, forcing Foodstuffs to sell some distribution centres.

What I said last week is still true now, ACT won't go for it.

Plus, the even the Commerce Commission said it's risky as. Cost could outweigh benefits.

So, Willis should stop with the threats. If you own a supermarket right now and your livelihood is being threatened, are you going to invest? Hire staff? Plan expansions?

The threat is purely political and could end up doing the opposite of what Willis wants it to.

Put it in the bin.

Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.