Minister for Indigenous Australians
More remote communities are set to benefit from the Albanese Labor Government's Food Security Resilience Package with an additional seven remote stores to receive funding.
Food and grocery availability in remote communities can be seriously affected by seasonal and extreme weather events and insufficient store infrastructure to hold supplies.
Through the $9.6 million Store Efficiency and Resilience Package, the Albanese Labor Government is working with remote stores, state and territory governments, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to ensure remote communities have reliable access to nutritious food and groceries all year round.
The Wandawuy Community Store in North East Arnhem Land has been offered $1.3 million to upgrade and expand store infrastructure to increase storage, improve security and upgrade solar power supply.
The Parnngurr Community Store in Western Australia's Pilbara region has been offered over $130,000 for essential store infrastructure upgrades, including roof replacement, cold storage, and a point of sale system update.
Four more stores in Western Australia and one in South Australia will receive funding under tranche two of the Store Efficiency and Resilience Package.
- Warakurna Store, Warakurna, WA
- Yakanarra Community Store, Yakanarra, WA
- Bayulu Supermarket, Bayulu, WA
- Wangkatjunka Community Store, Wangkatjungka, WA
- Pipalyatjara Store, Pipalyatjara, SA
The Store Efficiency and Resilience Package is one of the early actions taken under the National Strategy for Food Security in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
"Remote First Nations communities are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity.
"This package is about bolstering supplies at stores most vulnerable to having access cut off during the high-risk weather season.
"It demonstrates the Albanese Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to improve food security and resilience for remote First Nations communities."
Quotes attributable to Special Envoy for Remote Communities, Marion Scrymgour MP:
"The Albanese Labor Government is committed to supporting our remote communities and ensuring they get the services and attention they deserve. We have an ambitious agenda for the bush of which food security is a really important piece.
"Anyone who has lived out bush knows access to quality nutritious food can be extremely challenging. This is further complicated by bad weather and natural disasters.
"This program will help alleviate some of those challenges for remote communities, building resilience and security into the supply chain and working to ensure people get the food they need."
Quotes attributable to Laynhapuy Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Glenda Abraham (Wandawuy Community Store):
"Managing food insecurity for homelands is a priority for Laynha and a shared vision with government. Quality food is the starting block to healthier lives.
"Over 1,100 of Australia's most remote, and poorest socioeconomic groups rely on Laynha in the delivery of affordable food and household goods.
"Supplying 4 core homelands with culturally consulted groceries enables residents to save money on bush taxis, fuel and car repairs in their bid to buy from supermarkets that are over 400 kilometres away. It is often at significant risk to family and friends who take this journey due to poor road conditions and unsound vehicles.
"The money saved in not needing to drive is spent in the community run stores creating more employment and feeding more households with better quality products."
Quotes attributable to Parnngurr Aboriginal Corporation Independent Director, (Parnngurr Community Store) Dr Prem Mudhan:
"Food security is of paramount importance to our Martu people in Parnngurr Community. It enables them to continue living in a location they regard as sacred.
"Over the years, weather patterns have changed where it is now common for flash flooding of roads during cyclones and extreme heat in summer. Measures need to be taken to secure access to food throughout the year.
"The grant will enable the community to restore equipment to preserve food, refurbish infrastructure that will keep stored food safe, and facilitate more regular transport to the nearest town for fresh fruit and vegetables."
