The Morrison government has appointed former Liberal finance minister Nick Minchin as an independent reviewer to oversee the food and grocery code of practice.
The part-time, three-year appointment will monitor the code's dispute resolution process and its protections to improve commercial practices within the food and grocery industry.
Earlier this year the government enhanced the code to strengthen commercial dealings between signatories and their suppliers.
"Changes to the code were designed to promote fairer and more transparent dealings between suppliers and major supermarkets and wholesalers, as well as establishing of the independent reviewer's role," Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar said in a statement on Thursday.
The reviewer can make recommendations to resolve complaints and also has the power to refer matters to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission if it is believed a breach of the code has occurred.
Mr Minchin was elected to parliament as a Liberal senator for South Australia between 1993 and 2011, and was appointed finance minister under John Howard's coalition government from 2001 until 2007.
