Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to help ease cost of living pressures in remote First Nations communities, with a new subsidy scheme for food and essential items starting today.
From rice and tinned vegetables to nappies and toilet paper, the cost of 30 everyday essential items will be reduced so they are comparable to supermarket prices in urban areas.
The scheme is aimed at reducing the cost of living and the high rates of food insecurity experienced in remote communities.
The expected savings for remote consumers for the list of items is between 30 - 50%.
The Albanese Labor Government is investing $50 million over four years to reduce the costs of essential items in more than 76 remote stores. Over time the scheme will expand to include up to 152 remote stores.
Remote stores can now apply to participate in the subsidy scheme, which will be administered by the National Indigenous Australians Agency and delivered by Outback Stores, a not-for-profit Commonwealth company.
To participate in the subsidy scheme, remote stores must first sign up to a new National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations.
The Code includes a national set of minimum standards aimed at improving remote store capability in three key areas - governance, operations and health.
The Albanese Labor Government is also launching a dedicated governance training and support package for remote store staff, to ensure they have the tools and resources required to provide high quality retail services.
$21.4 million is also being invested over four years to upskill local First Nations store-based staff in up to 106 stores to promote good nutrition and healthy choices to shoppers.
Remote stores can find out more about the Code of Practice and subsidy scheme at Food security in remote First Nations communities | NIAA(link is external)
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
"First Nations people living in remote communities have been paying significantly higher prices for essential items than people in the cities for far too long.
"The start of the subsidy scheme marks a significant step in our work to ease cost of living pressures and improve food security issues for remote communities.
"I encourage remote stores to apply to join the scheme to help provide affordable essentials to their communities. Support is available every step of the way."
Quotes attributable to the Special Envoy for Remote Communities and Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour MP:
"Not only will this scheme bring essential groceries in line with prices in bigger towns and cities, but it will also provide real job opportunities for First Nations people living in remote communities.
"I encourage stores to sign up to the Code and subsidy scheme which will help ease the cost of living in remote communities.
"I am proud to be part of a government that is steadfast in delivering on our election commitments."
Quotes attributable to Outback Stores Deputy CEO, Jay Rathore:
"Outback Stores is proud to be a key delivery partner in this important government initiative aimed at providing remote stores with low-cost access to essential items.
"Over the past year, Outback Stores has played a key role in trialing this initiative on behalf of the government. The scheme is specifically designed to bring genuine cost savings to remote communities.
"During the successful trial phase, Outback Stores supported 72 stores across various regions. Feedback from these trial stores has been overwhelmingly positive, with customers reporting significant savings."
Quotes attributable to Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation CEO Alastair King:
"The Federal Government's subsidy scheme is a welcome initiative that is already giving our remote First Nations customers welcome relief.
"The program is significantly reducing prices in stores but also boosting health outcomes and ensuring remote communities aren't left behind when it comes to food and essentials. We see it making a real, tangible difference to customers' ability to feed their families.
"Our Queensland stores are now looking forward to the program being rolled out in their communities.
"We thank the Australian Government and Outback Stores for their hard work and support in rolling out this scheme."
Quotes attributable to Community Enterprise Queensland CEO Michael Dykes:
"CEQ welcomes the introduction of the Australian Government's remote stores subsidy scheme and is working closely with Outback Stores to support its rollout in North Queensland.
"We know that lowering the cost of healthy and nutritious food and household essentials can lead to better health outcomes and government initiatives like this go a long way towards addressing the food insecurity our remote communities have faced for decades.'
