Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. We know food prices and availability are major issues for remote First Nations communities. The Albanese Labor government is committed to delivering cost-of-living relief to First Nations Australians in remote communities. Can the minister update the Senate on the progress of the Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Mulholland for her question—a proud Queensland senator—and I particularly thank Senator Green for her advocacy on this issue as well. Senator Green and the now, new, member for Leichhardt went to the election promising cost-of-living relief in remote communities. Well, today, I can advise the Senate that we're delivering on our cost-of-living promise to remote communities, including right across northern Queensland.

Our Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme is seeing the cost of 30 essential items slashed. The scheme ensures that these 30 essential items are comparable to prices in cities. The expected savings for remote consumers on these items are up to 50 per cent. And I can inform the senator that residents across Cape York—here I go—in Bamaga, Coen, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Napranum, Pormpuraaw and Wujal Wujal, and even in the Torres Strait, in Thursday Island, Boigu Island, Hammond Island, Coconut Island, Horn Island, Mabuiag Island and also in Doomadgee and Palm Island—in over 30 stores around northern Queensland, we are delivering cost-of-living relief.

Remote stores will be offering cheaper groceries, providing cost-of-living relief, and food items that have been made cheaper include tinned veggies, canned fruit and rice, along with everyday items such as nappies and toilet paper. And the Albanese Labor government is investing $50 million over four years to improve remote food security, including reducing the cost of essential items in up to 152 remote stores across the country.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Mulholland, first supplementary?

Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the minister for the update on the Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme. I know the scheme will make an enormous difference in regions like the Cape York and the Torres Strait, as you outlined. We also know the high cost of food in remote stores is linked to high levels of food insecurity and preventable nutrition related disease. How does this scheme support healthy eating and contribute to positive health outcomes as part of closing the gap?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government worked in partnership with the states and territories, and I do thank the states and territories, who have worked very closely with me to ensure that this is occurring in our remote stores right across the country and especially in Queensland to develop a national code of practice for remote store operations. This code works alongside our Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme to deliver better health outcomes for Indigenous Australians in remote communities. It establishes minimum standards for remote stores across operations, health and governance. Some of these standards include not promoting or discounting unhealthy food and drinks, not providing easy access to unhealthy food and drinks at counters and in high-traffic areas except for ready-to-eat meals, and ensuring all fresh fruit and vegie items are continuously available, well presented and clearly displayed.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Mulholland, second supplementary?

Corinne Mulholland (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for outlining the cost-of-living impacts and health impacts of this policy. What are the other benefits of this policy for remote communities?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Senate might notice a return to a theme in this response. Yes, there is another benefit with this policy, and it's an important one. That is jobs, jobs, jobs. Not only are we subsidising essential items and creating minimum standards in stores for health outcomes; we are funding the creation of an in-store nutrition workforce. This means we will create jobs—real jobs—and equip locally engaged workers with skills to build healthier retail food environments and provide informed advice to customers about healthy food purchases. We know Indigenous Australians in remote stores receiving advice from trusted people in a supportive and culturally appropriate environment are more likely to make healthier purchasing choices. This will have a positive impact. Certainly, this is what we want to be able to monitor going forward in terms of health outcomes. We've got a plan and we are delivering on it.