Government and industry are meeting to work out ways to reduce the price of essentials in remote communities.
Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said a roundtable in Canberra today (November 6) involving manufacturers and producers would explore options to improve food security and affordability of food and other essentials in remote First Nations communities.
Senator McCarthy said the meeting brought together industry, remote retailers and the National Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation.
She said participants in the Food Security Industry Roundtable would discuss remote supply chains and the role industry could play in reducing prices, to help ease cost of living pressures affecting remote First Nations communities.
“Due to higher operating costs and tenuous supply chains, food in remote stores is often more than 50 percent more expensive than in regional supermarkets, as well as inconsistently available and of lower quality.”
Senator McCarthy said there were more than 200 remote community stores across Australia, supporting around 150,000 First Nations people.
“Consistent access to affordable, nutritious and fresh food is vital to good health outcomes, yet First Nations people living in remote communities face a number of barriers to this basic life essential.
“We are working with industry to address cost of living pressures in these communities, because all players along the remote supply chain have a role in improving access to affordable and nutritious food.”
