The Greens

A parliamentary inquiry threatened to hold Brad Banducci, the chief executive of Woolworths, in contempt during a fiery hearing as Australia’s big supermarket chains faced claims they price gouge shoppers and coerce suppliers.

Banducci was asked by the Senate committee on Tuesday to disclose the company’s return on equity (ROE), an important gauge of profitability, amid a discussion over whether its profit levels were reasonable in a cost-of-living crisis.

Banducci repeatedly declined to answer the question

Also on his eyebrow-raising expenses were $23,000 on two private jet flights and another $12,000 on a government-­provided vehicle and petrol ­allowance.

His annual expenses bill for 2022 was an eye-watering $963,166, not including his $314,000 salary and the wages of his personal staff, according to the Department of Finance.

Mr Bandt, whose party runs on a platform of climate change prevention, forked out $23,000 on the two private jets during the 2022 election campaign.

On March 7, Mr Bandt booked a chartered flight from Townsville to Rockhampton during a tour of regional Queensland where he announced his plan to aggressively transition away from coal, costing taxpayers $8300.

The Greens leader refused to explain why he chartered a $15,000 private plane between Canberra and Brisbane to attend his party’s election campaign launch despite the taxpayer being forced to pick up the tab.

Mr Bandt’s travel costs also included almost $29,000 on government Comcar trips and taxis and $57,000 for domestic flights, along with $372,000 in staff travel expenses for his 21-strong entourage.

Independent MP Dai Le, who is among the most frugal spenders in parliament, called on Mr Bandt’s hypocrisy in using private jets for common commercial routes. “I’m shocked by the news of parliamentarians overspending and surprised by the Greens’ use of chartered flights when they are the party that opposed the use of fossil fuels,” she said.