These recommendations were almost unanimously weak.

They "referred" or "suggested" or "proposed" options, none of which would help farmers claw back margins from the duopoly of Coles and Woolworths.

But if the recommendations are weak, then how best to describe the Government's response, tabled quietly on a Friday in a bid to avoid scrutiny.

The Government's response was pathetic. It was inconsequential. It stood for nothing.

Of the 31 recommendations the Government has agreed in principle to seven and "noted" 24.

Noted – another term for "we have read the recommendation".

This has been a waste of time for all those who prepared submissions and those who fronted the inquiry.

It has also been a kick in the guts. When a Government calls an inquiry, those who invest in it are given hope that they may be listened to, that there may be some hope of a fair go.

This wasn't to be the case.

The ADF presented solid evidence of the impacts of the supermarkets' decisions on farmers. This was supported by statements from the processing sector.

It was all disregarded.

The Government has instead hitched its wagon to the toothless tiger that is the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), stating it will not take any action because it is satisfied with its monitoring process.

The ACCC has already proven itself ineffective against the tactics of the major supermarkets and admitted at the inquiry that it had not monitored other items in the supermarket to see whether they were offsetting price cuts on staples such as milk.

Yet the Government says there are no problems because the ACCC says so.

Although farmers, members of the ADF and state dairy bodies have raised the awareness of the issue – and continue to do so at Government level and through the media – the Government won't take it any further.

It has left farmers on their own against the might of Coles and Woolworths, giving the powerful duopoly the green light to further reduce the profit margins of its suppliers.

Coles has already shown it will go further with its actions against fruit and vegetable suppliers, advertising discounted produce to attract consumers to their stores.

Somebody needs to show some spine – but the Government has shown it won't be them.