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The Coalition has accused the government of siding with big business in its “flaccid” response to the ACCC’s report that found Australia’s supermarkets are among the most profitable in the world.

In a Sky News interview, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie claimed Labor had failed for three years to address rising prices for consumers and the “poor deal” that primary producers were getting because of the duopoly.

“This is a very flaccid response from Jim Chalmers, we put a very comprehensive proposal on the table to address the lack of competition in our supermarket sector that the government failed to pick up,” she said.

The Nationals’ Senate leader added that there was a lack of penalties and “tough measures” in the government’s response, countering that the Coalition supports fines of up to $2 million and giving the ACCC divestiture powers as a “serious disincentive” for mistreating customers and suppliers.

“I think this, once again, is the Labor Party backing their mates at the big end of town, rather than everyday Australians who are being crippled by, you know, the price rises at the checkout.”

McKenzie said the US and UK had divestiture powers, and the move was supported by former ACCC chairs.

“We need it here as a measure to really say to these supermarkets, you are unable to treat people egregiously any more.”