The topic is supermarkets.

It happened on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 9:13 am.

Coles opened a supermarket in Kalgoorlie in 2021 after spending $16 million.

In short, this is about a new supermarket.

The competition regulator stopped Coles from building a new supermarket in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

Kalgoorlie already has many supermarkets, including Coles and Woolworths, so the regulator thought another Coles would reduce competition.

What happens next?

Coles might appeal the decision to a special tribunal.

The Australian consumer watchdog used new powers to stop Coles from opening a new supermarket, which could hurt smaller competitors.

Coles wanted to open a second supermarket and a liquor store in Kalgoorlie.

Kalgoorlie already has many supermarkets.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) looked at Coles' plan to buy a site near Kalgoorlie's airport for six months.

The ACCC's deputy chair said the investigation was very thorough.

Independent supermarkets are important for competition and give consumers choices.

A new Coles supermarket might make an independent competitor leave the market.

New supermarkets might not open quickly enough to replace the lost competition.

Why is this decision important?

The ACCC has stopped supermarket deals before, like when Woolworths tried to buy an IGA in Queanbeyan.

But this is the first time the ACCC has used its new powers to stop a deal.

The proposed Coles site is near a childcare center and industrial area.

Under new rules, supermarkets must tell the ACCC about new deals, which are then reviewed for competition concerns.

If a deal raises concerns, it goes to a second phase of review.

This happened with Coles' plan for a second supermarket in Kalgoorlie.

The ACCC was concerned because Coles and Woolworths already control a lot of the market.

Coles thinks the ACCC underestimated Kalgoorlie's growth.

There are already many supermarkets in Kalgoorlie.

Coles is considering its next steps.

Coles could appeal the decision to a tribunal.

Coles disagrees with the ACCC's decision.

Kalgoorlie is a big mining city with a large population.

Coles thinks the ACCC underestimated the city's growth and demand.

There is another supermarket, O'Connor Fresh IGA, near the proposed Coles site.

Kalgoorlie is growing, with new industry and housing, which will increase demand for supermarkets.

Coles says its business plan does not rely on other supermarkets leaving the market.

Coles used to have two stores in Kalgoorlie.

Coles had two supermarkets in Kalgoorlie until it opened a new one in 2021.

The old Coles site on Brookman Street is still empty and causing problems.

It was going to be redeveloped with an Aldi and apartments, but Aldi pulled out due to high costs.

The city council now owns the site, which is empty and attracting antisocial behavior.

It happened on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 9:13 am.

It happened on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 12:07 pm.

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