Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams has called the ACCC’s decision not to oppose the proposed acquisition of Primo by JBS “very disappointing.”
As part of the review process, Williams lodged submissions on behalf of concerned people in the livestock industry, and their common worry was that the takeover would lessen competition at the saleyards.
Senator Williams said the ACCC agrees there is some lessening of competition, but then claims it is not a substantial lessening of competition.
He said the ACCC claims Primo is not a strong competitive restraint on JBS and tries to justify the distance of more than 500 kilometres between Primo’s Scone abattoir and JBS’s Queensland abattoirs to support its case.
“This is out of touch with reality because cattle can and are transported many hundreds, even thousands of kilometres,” Williams said.
“I find it confusing that on one hand the ACCC will not oppose this acquisition, yet in the next breath says it is wary of the potential impact of the further consolidation of abattoirs. If that is true, why didn’t it act in this instance?
“From talking with farmers and those in the livestock selling industry I know this decision will be met with dismay and only time will tell whether it is right,” Williams said.