Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said the Federal Government has committed to collaborating with manufacturers and producers to investigate ways to enhance food security and make food and other essentials more affordable in remote First Nations communities.
Ms McCarthy said that the Food Security Industry Roundtable held in Canberra on Wednesday marked the inaugural gathering of stakeholders from the remote supply chain, including manufacturers and retailers, to explore solutions for food security in remote communities collaboratively.
“Industry participants heard from the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation on the health impact of food insecurity and acknowledged the health crisis facing remote Australia,” she said.
“Central Australia has the highest rates of amputations in the country due to diseases like diabetes. First Nations people suffer from high rates of chronic kidney disease across the country.
“Remote retailers highlighted the cost of doing business as an issue impacting their purchasing power, affecting volume and ultimately the cost and availability of food and essentials for residents in remote communities.”
Key outcomes of the roundtable included a consensus on prioritising freight to enhance reliability and lower costs, considering variables such as weather conditions and limited competition.
Ms McCarthy said manufacturers are willing to collaborate with retailers in remote communities to supply essential goods at prices comparable to those of major supermarket chains.
She emphasised that food insecurity significantly impacts First Nations peoples in these areas, where food costs are considerably higher, and supply chains are more susceptible to disruptions.
Australia has over 200 remote community stores serving around 150,000 First Nations people. Grocery prices in some of these remote areas can be more than twice as high as those in major cities, negatively affecting local residents’ health and financial stability, Ms McCarthy said.
“The 2024 Commonwealth Closing the Gap Implementation Plan recognises remote food insecurity, or food security, as an absolutely national priority and our government is committed to action. Improving food security requires commitment across industry and government along all stages of the supply chain,” Ms McCarthy said.
The Federal Government is allocating $11.8 million to create a National Strategy for Food Security in remote First Nations communities, collaborating with state and territory governments and First Nations health organisations.
The strategy aims to enhance access to nutritious and affordable food, with finalisation expected by early 2025.
Key stakeholders that attended the meeting include ALPA, CEQ, Foodbank SA & NT, George Weston Foods, Goodman Fielder, Kimberley Clarke, Mai Wiru, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation peak body (NACCHO), Outback Stores, Sanitarium, San Remo Group, Simon George & Sons, Sun Rice Group, Unicharm Australasia, and the Woolworths Group.
Many bush communities were church missionary outposts. They depended on their own market gardens and livestock to be self sufficient to a high degree. Many outstations were excised from cattle properties that had their own butchery. The change since the 70’s has made them more reliable on the community store instead of working to produce their own food. They have the land and finances to help themselves instead of another round of government subsidies.