Labour MP Shane Jones says he feels vindicated by the Commerce Commission's decision to formally investigate allegations he has made about the Countdown supermarket chain's treatment of New Zealand suppliers.
The commission yesterday said it would formally investigate allegations Mr Jones raised of anti-competitive behaviour by Countdown, encouraging suppliers tocome forward and promising anonymity for those who sought it.
Yesterday a spokeswoman for Countdown's owner, Progressive Enterprises, said it would co-operate with the inquiry and believed it was now best to let that investigation take its course.
Mr Jones said despite the criticism he faced for raising the matter under parliamentary privilege, he had known there was substance to his claims.
"I feel vindicated that at least the Commerce Commission has seen enough gravity in the essential claims that they're going to use their powers to look into it."
He said a wider inquiry into supermarkets should happen.
Finance Minister Bill English said the Government was considering a wider review of competition laws governing industries in which there were only a few major players, such as the supermarkets. Claire Trevett
