Essential grocery items would be 30 per cent cheaper under a vision for publicly-owned supermarkets in one state.
The Victorian Greens have vowed to committed $350 million to trial 10 state-owned supermarkets should they secure an unlikely victory at the November poll.
The move is inspired by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pledge to establish a public grocer in each of the city’s five boroughs.
“If publicly owned supermarkets can work in New York, they can work in Victoria," state Greens leader Ellen Sandell said on Thursday.
The plan is designed to chip away at the market dominance of Coles and Woolworths, delivering more affordable alternatives to shoppers.
By delivering essentials at 70 per cent the cost of major supermarket chains, the average Victorian household would save $4274 annually, according to the party.
Funded by taxing big banks and gambling, the $350 million investment would fund a four-year trial and empower the Essential Services Commission to set price ceilings on staples.
It draws on work from the party's think tank, The Green Institute, calling for the federal government to invest $25.1 billion over five years to create public grocers across the country.
That plan would see the government acquire 200 Coles and Woolworths stores and build 424 stores nationwide.
But not all are convinced public ownership is the best way to improve affordability.
Dr Balaji Makam, associate professor at RMIT's School of Economics Finance & Marketing, said boosting competition would likely be more effective.
"Governments could strengthen competition laws, improve supply chain efficiency, support independent grocers and increase pricing transparency," he said.
Ms Sandell has also drawn a direct line between her party's answer to Victorian crime and Mr Mamdani's new Office of Community Safety.
Announced on Tuesday, the Greens would invest $1 billion to help fund 24/7 crisis outreach and prevention programs and more funding for frontline services, modelled off NYC's approach.
Victoria's crime rate fell by almost four per cent in the 12 months to June, thanks in part to youth offending declining by 8.1 per cent.
The Labor and Coalition, meanwhile, have pledged to hire more police officers if elected, while advancing tough sentencing laws for violent, young offenders.
The Victorian Greens will launch its state election campaign in Melbourne on Thursday, weeks out from the November 28 poll.
While it hopes frustrations with a 12-year-old Labor government will boost their odds, polls point to a three-legged race between the incumbent, the Coalition and an insurgent One Nation.
Meanwhile, the state Coalition has pledged to contribute $10.4 million towards bringing a cutting-edge cancer treatment to Victoria.
Melbourne's Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre would host Australia's first proton beam therapy service, a highly-targeted radiation treatment.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the plan would mean Victorians would not have to travel overseas for world-leading cancer care.
