Price surge hits some areas as nine items cost over $100
- Replies 2
In Australia's vast and beautiful landscapes, the conveniences of city life are often a world away for those living in remote communities.
The disparity between urban and remote living is starkly evident regarding something as basic as grocery shopping.
For many Australians, a quick trip to the local supermarket is all it takes to stock up on essentials.
Residents in some of Western Australia's and the Northern Territory's most isolated areas can find acquiring the same staples expensive.
A recent investigation by consumer advocacy group CHOICE has revealed a troubling issue: the cost of groceries in remote communities is not just high—it's staggeringly so.
The group conducted a mystery shop in four remote community grocery stores: two in WA's Great Sandy Desert and Pilbara regions, two in the NT's West Daly area, and one in the Tiwi Islands.
The findings were eye-opening: the average price for a basket of 10 grocery items was $99.38, more than double the average cost in capital cities, which stood at $44.70.
The most expensive basket was found in the NT's West Daly region, with a whopping $110.82 for just nine items.
We're not talking about luxury goods here, but everyday essentials like apples, carrots, breakfast cereal, flour, pasta, tea bags, cheese, milk, and mince.
Such prices can significantly impact the quality of life for individuals and families, especially those on low incomes or Centrelink payments.
Financial counsellor Bettina Cooper from Mob Strong Debt Help pointed out the harsh reality residents face: the high cost of living forces people to make tough choices about which meals to skip.
CHOICE journalist Jarni Blakkarly highlighted the stark price differences between remote communities and capital cities for identical items.
‘The price differences between identical items in remote communities and capital cities [are] pretty astounding,’ he said.
For example, while city dwellers might pay an average of $4.87 for a kilo of apples, residents on the Tiwi Islands are charged $7.50, and in West Daly, the price skyrockets to $9.10 per kilo.
Locals like Rosie, a Tiwi Island resident, deeply feel the impact of these prices.
She expressed shock at the cost of supporting her family and the difficulty of maintaining independence when grocery prices are inflated.
Cooper, a Boandik woman, observed that prices for fresh fruit and vegetables are not even displayed in some remote communities, discouraging healthy eating choices.
‘You’re not going to choose healthy options if you don’t know what it will cost you,’ she explained.
‘We want to have people with healthy diets and less blood pressure, less diabetes, less issues — give them the tools to be able to achieve that goal, not double the cost.’
Cooper suggested that government intervention could make a significant difference.
Subsidising freight costs and monitoring remote grocery prices could reduce the financial pressure on these communities.
Implementing price caps on essential items and increasing Centrelink payments to match the cost of living could also provide much-needed relief.
In other news, CHOICE's research revealed that ALDI's prices for a basket of 14 grocery items are 25 per cent lower than those at Coles and Woolworths.
The Albanese government commissioned this research to track supermarket prices amid growing public concerns about rising costs. You can read more about it here.
Have you or someone you know faced similar challenges with grocery costs in remote areas? What solutions could help address this issue? Let us know in the comments below.
The disparity between urban and remote living is starkly evident regarding something as basic as grocery shopping.
For many Australians, a quick trip to the local supermarket is all it takes to stock up on essentials.
Residents in some of Western Australia's and the Northern Territory's most isolated areas can find acquiring the same staples expensive.
A recent investigation by consumer advocacy group CHOICE has revealed a troubling issue: the cost of groceries in remote communities is not just high—it's staggeringly so.
Essential groceries are priced over $100 for a basket of nine items in remote WA and NT communities. Credit: Shutterstock
The group conducted a mystery shop in four remote community grocery stores: two in WA's Great Sandy Desert and Pilbara regions, two in the NT's West Daly area, and one in the Tiwi Islands.
The findings were eye-opening: the average price for a basket of 10 grocery items was $99.38, more than double the average cost in capital cities, which stood at $44.70.
The most expensive basket was found in the NT's West Daly region, with a whopping $110.82 for just nine items.
We're not talking about luxury goods here, but everyday essentials like apples, carrots, breakfast cereal, flour, pasta, tea bags, cheese, milk, and mince.
Such prices can significantly impact the quality of life for individuals and families, especially those on low incomes or Centrelink payments.
Financial counsellor Bettina Cooper from Mob Strong Debt Help pointed out the harsh reality residents face: the high cost of living forces people to make tough choices about which meals to skip.
CHOICE journalist Jarni Blakkarly highlighted the stark price differences between remote communities and capital cities for identical items.
‘The price differences between identical items in remote communities and capital cities [are] pretty astounding,’ he said.
For example, while city dwellers might pay an average of $4.87 for a kilo of apples, residents on the Tiwi Islands are charged $7.50, and in West Daly, the price skyrockets to $9.10 per kilo.
Locals like Rosie, a Tiwi Island resident, deeply feel the impact of these prices.
She expressed shock at the cost of supporting her family and the difficulty of maintaining independence when grocery prices are inflated.
Cooper, a Boandik woman, observed that prices for fresh fruit and vegetables are not even displayed in some remote communities, discouraging healthy eating choices.
‘You’re not going to choose healthy options if you don’t know what it will cost you,’ she explained.
‘We want to have people with healthy diets and less blood pressure, less diabetes, less issues — give them the tools to be able to achieve that goal, not double the cost.’
Cooper suggested that government intervention could make a significant difference.
Subsidising freight costs and monitoring remote grocery prices could reduce the financial pressure on these communities.
Implementing price caps on essential items and increasing Centrelink payments to match the cost of living could also provide much-needed relief.
In other news, CHOICE's research revealed that ALDI's prices for a basket of 14 grocery items are 25 per cent lower than those at Coles and Woolworths.
The Albanese government commissioned this research to track supermarket prices amid growing public concerns about rising costs. You can read more about it here.
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