The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued a Statement of Issues on the proposed acquisition of a supermarket lease by Woolworths Limited in Wallaroo, South Australia.

The Statement of Issues seeks further information on certain competition issues which have arisen from the ACCC's market inquiries.

The ACCC invites further submissions from the market focused on these matters by 10 December 2008.  Submissions can be sent by email to the ACCC at: mergers@accc.gov.au.  To allow for submissions in response to the Statement of Issues, the ACCC's final decision date will be deferred until 21 January 2009.

The Statement of Issues will be available on the ACCC's website, www.accc.gov.au, under Mergers in the For businesses section.

For media inquiries to the ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, or Dr Stephen King, Commissioner, please call Ms Lin Enright, ACCC Media, on (02) 6243 1108 or 0414 613 520. 

For general inquiries, please call the Infocentre: 1300 302 502.