By Tess Ikonomou in Canberra

Anthony Albanese says supermarkets are “taking the piss” as Labor promises a ban on price-gouging if re-elected, despite the consumer watchdog finding no evidence it was taking place.

The prime minister started Sunday in the Labor-held seat of Canberra, visiting a family at their home in Downer.

Meeting single mum Ren Knerr, her mother Filomena and her children Hawkins, 2, and Teilo, 11, Mr Albanese tucked into a spread put on by the Italian grandmother who said she baked and cooked far less than usual due to high food prices.

“I’m trying to keep fit on the campaign and I’m breaking all my rules,” the prime minister laughed.

The family gifted him a pair of cavoodle-themed socks in a nod to his dog Toto.

Labor has promised to make excessive supermarket pricing illegal, to fix what it has labelled a gap in the nation’s competition and consumer protection framework.

Laws are set to be introduced by the end of the year if the government is re-elected.

“I got asked today… how do you know what’s price gouging? Price gouging is when supermarkets are taking the piss (out of) Australian consumers,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

“I think there are absolutely examples where they have been… Australians know that.”

Laws to protect customers from companies engaging in the practice already exist in the UK, European Union and dozens of states in the US.

Labor would first implement recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s supermarket inquiry report to improve transparency about prices, promotions and loyalty programs.

A task force would be set up to advise on introducing an excessive-pricing regime for supermarkets to be policed by the consumer watchdog.

The group would include Treasury, the ACCC and other experts who would consult and report to the federal government within six months.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton rejected the price gouging proposal, backing a coalition policy to divest major supermarkets.

“It’s just this continuous wet lettuce response from a weak prime minister, and Australians know that,” he told Sydney radio station 2GB.

“The prime minister is out there saying, ‘oh, well, we’ll set up the fifth committee in three years’, and somehow that’s going to make a difference.”

Coles and Woolworths have rejected claims of price-gouging, arguing their margins are comparable to their peers in countries including Canada, the UK and the US.

The Australian Retailers Association said the comments were a distraction from the broader policies the community deserved during the election campaign.

“Eight taxpayer funded inquiries have failed to find any evidence of supermarket price gouging,” the association’s Fleur Brown said.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said the supermarkets didn’t fear the “weak” prime minister, with Australian families to pay the price.

With cost of living being the most pressing issue for voters, Labor is spruiking measures including cheaper medicines and proposed tax cuts.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Labor was making sure Australians were not being treated like mugs.

“We’re delivering a better deal for families at the checkout and a better deal for farmers at the farm gate,” he said.

“Our plan helps deliver more competition, fairer prices and better deals for Australians.”