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Following the release of a CHOICE investigation that found groceries in some remote First Nations communities cost more than twice as much as in capital cities a coalition of organisations is urging the government to strengthen its proposed food security strategy to improve access to food in remote First Nations communities.
A CHOICE basket of nine essential items cost $44.70 when averaged out across Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA across all capital cities.
The average price of the same basket in the four remote communities was more than double that, coming in at $99.38. The most expensive basket found was $110.82 in the Northern Territory West Daly region.
According to CHOICE, everyone should be able to access food and groceries at fair and reasonable prices regardless of where they live, but the investigation highlighted that food insecurity and exorbitantly high prices were significant issues in remote communities across the country.
That’s why CHOICE and a coalition of organisations isurging the government to strengthen its proposed food security strategy to improve access to food in remote First Nations communities.
“We’re calling for a number of changes that could help reduce grocery prices, improve accessibility and help close the gap for First Nations peoples living in remote communities,” said CHOICE spokesperson Bea Sherwood.
“If we can show the government that thousands of people have endorsed these changes too, they’ll know they have overwhelming public support to make the strategy as strong as possible,” she said.
The price differences between identical items in remote communities and capital cities were astounding. In capital cities, for example, you’ll pay, on average, $4.87 for a kilo of apples. At the West Daly store, apples will set you back $9.10 per kilo.
To help tackle disparities like this, CHOICE has recommended a mandatory code of practice for remote stores, considering price caps on essential food and grocery items and introducing an accessible price monitoring tool with current and historical prices across remote community stores.
CHOICE is asking members of the public to add their support to the campaign.
You can read the whole CHOICE investigation here.
