In a society balanced on the intricate scales of justice, every individual is guaranteed certain fundamental rights, such as the right to life, security, peace, health, education, and the freedom to pursue the business or career they aspire to. This vision is not a utopian dream but rather a description of what a fair and just society should look like anywhere in the world. By accepting these rights as a benchmark to measure the fairness and equity within a society or its economic model, we can more clearly understand how accessible justice truly is for everyone—especially the vulnerable, the young, and those just stepping into the next phase of life after education, where the opportunity to work, start a business, or engage in trade should be equally available to all.
However, when we examine Australian society, it becomes apparent that certain opportunities are not as accessible as they should be. For example, if I have a passion for selling cheese and wish to establish a business in my local community, this option may not be available to me. Starting and sustaining a successful business in today’s competitive environment requires resources, networks, and opportunities that are increasingly out of reach for smaller players like myself.
Now, let’s say this situation affects not only me but also my son 30 years from now. He, too, might find himself unable to sell cheese in the same community because the dominant players, who controlled the market when I wanted to enter it, still dominate. The opportunity that should naturally arise from the ebb and flow of businesses growing and declining hasn’t materialised. As a result, these businesses that denied me a chance to compete will continue to block the path for the next generation.
This hypothetical cheese-selling scenario, while specific to me, reflects a much broader issue. Take Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most popular drinks, purchased by millions of people annually. Yet, neither I nor my son—or even my grandchildren—would have the opportunity to build a business around selling Coca-Cola in Australia. Why? Not because Coca-Cola is unwilling to distribute its products through new suppliers, but because the domination of the grocery market by excessively large retailers makes it impossible for any new entrants to compete.
This lack of opportunity spans generations and regions. The right to start a business, guaranteed to me by the Australian Constitution, is effectively inaccessible in industries monopolised by large corporations. The enormous supply chains and purchasing power of these corporate giants create a barrier to entry that prevents smaller businesses from thriving.
To be clear, this is not an argument against the existence of large businesses. People who have built successful companies through hard work deserve the success they have earned. However, the success of a business should not automatically translate into the suppression of opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to operate in the same market.
The sheer size of these corporations gives them unfair advantages. Their ability to purchase products at prices unavailable to smaller businesses is, in itself, an injustice. This issue is not confined to grocery supply chains; it extends to any industry dominated by a few large players. These giants not only enjoy the benefits of their size but also perpetuate their dominance across generations and geographic regions, making it nearly impossible for new competitors to emerge.
As a result, wealth is unequally distributed, and opportunities for new businesses are stifled. Worse still, these dominant corporations often expand into new markets, further reducing opportunities for smaller players. The problem is compounded when we consider that larger businesses can collaborate—either openly or tacitly—through informal agreements not to compete with each other in certain regions, thereby ensuring their mutual dominance.
This brings us to the concerning trend of online retail giants monopolising the market even further. These companies can offer products at prices well below the purchasing cost for most goods, making it impossible for smaller retailers to compete. This suggests that even large corporations are not safe from the dominance of even larger entities. Yet, rather than compete, these giants often form unspoken pacts, allowing each other to thrive while shutting out smaller competitors.
This unchecked growth of corporate giants, without consideration for the impact on smaller businesses, creates a chaotic economic environment. As long as this trend continues, small and medium-sized enterprises will find it increasingly difficult to survive, let alone thrive, in industries targeted by these massive corporations.
Does this mean every business in Australia faces an existential threat from these corporate behemoths? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. Unless you are another giant, competing against these corporations is virtually impossible. As a result, entrepreneurs and small business owners are being denied the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the economy.
This is a perpetual problem. Unless we recognise and address the economic injustice at play, where oversized corporations hold entire markets under their control, future generations will face the same challenges. Without intervention, the beautiful ideal of a fair and just society—one that provides equal opportunity for all—will remain out of reach.
Someone must recognise this issue and work toward correcting it. If economic justice is a goal for Australia, this goal is under serious threat. Without corrective measures, we risk perpetuating a system that denies opportunities to the very people who need them most. This is not the future we want for our country, and it’s time to take action.
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