Only weeks ago, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Graeme Samuel told the ABC’s 7.30 Report that “there would be very few observers in the marketplace that would say to you, ‘Coles and Woolworths are not vigorously competing against each other.”‘ Now, in a somersault worthy of an Olympic gold medal, Samuel has concluded that “the grocery market is workably competitive.”

GroceryWatch and its related measures are meant to satisfy the expectation the prime minister built up during the election campaign that Labor would do something to bring down the cost of living. But as in the case of FuelWatch this exercise is more likely than not to come back and bite him on the proverbial.

Pat Walker has had responsibility for the controversial Fuel Watch petrol price-monitoring scheme. Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen confirmed today that Mr Walker’s departure would take effect by October.