Tuesday, 8 April 2025
The Alice Springs Remote Food Security Roundtable saw more than 30 people from the grocery, transport and freight industries come together to discuss how to sustainably make food more affordable in remote areas.
The Roundtable was attended by the Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and CLP Lingiari candidate Lisa Siebert.
The Roundtable was facilitated by Brad Gaddes, Chair of the Central Australian Committee of the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce. He can be quoted on the following:
"Remote Australians are feeling the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis, often paying twice as much for food, and we need a better solution,” Mr Gaddes said.
"Today’s roundtable was very productive, with industry expressing its concerns with the current policy of subsidising 30 grocery items in 76 stores, and offering more workable solutions.
“On the table today was an industry-wide freight subsidy to improve affordability of all foods, a review of the fuel tax and better coordination between the Territory and Australian Governments.
“These could potentially be game changers, supporting lower prices for all food items across all remote stores, rather than picking a few winners.
"We need to improve the supply chain from freight to fridge, in order to support cheaper groceries in remote Australia.
"What we don't want is a system that picks winners and dictates what tries to unduly influence what people can and cannot eat. All Australians living remotely deserve access to cheaper food.
“All participants agreed that this was a useful first step in ensuring that a wider range of industry voices were at the table shaping policy on remote food.”
A copy of the communique, which was discussed at the Roundtable, is attached.
MEDIA: William Sparling 0416 628 276 and [email protected]