TRENDY TREV, HOST: All right. The Albanese government did invest $50 million over four years to improve remote food security, including reducing the cost of essential items. The Low Cost Essential Subsidy Scheme will be capped at 152 participating stores. We had the conversation earlier, about a couple of weeks ago with Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister of Indigenous Australians, Senator for Northern Territory and we got her on the line to talk about the good news and a very good morning, my sister. Minister, how are you?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Good morning, how are you Trev? And a big hello to all your listeners.
TRENDY TREV: Thank you, my sister very much. Coming to the program before we start, let the mob know, who your mob? Where you from?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Sure. It's Malarndirri McCarthy, Yanyuwa Garrwa woman from Borroloola in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Minister for Indigenous Australians across the country.
TRENDY TREV: Beautiful. Thank you very much. Good news in regard to, we've got 100 remote stores now enrolled in the Low Cost Essential Subsidy Scheme. That's good money invested, is it not?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Totally Trev, it was great to speak to you a couple of weeks ago about the 30 stores in Far North Queensland and I was able to get to Palm Island last Friday for their Spring Festival and also announced that Palm Island was the 100th store to sign up. So, big shout out to all the mob on Palm Island.
TRENDY TREV: Look, thank you. We are struggling. I mean that's all Australians regarding expenses and living expenses. So, a dollar’s better in our pocket than somebody else's. And here we are saving money, but we're talking about essential items, which is great for our families who are struggling.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It is Trev and I just wanted to, like I said to you, just want to make sure our mob in our remote regions actually have prices in their stores.
TRENDY TREV: Yes.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: And it’s for 30 essential items, obviously they're the main things. I know there'll be other foods that might be a bit more expensive or other products, but we did try and narrow it to the 30 items that we think do work and that was on the advice of so many across our remote communities and I just ask for feedback from people as you travel around or even in your communities. Just let me know how you're going and let Trev know. So, I know.
TRENDY TREV: Lovely, thank you. Now, regarding the sign ups, tell us the process or how the conversation goes with the so called stores. Are they approached with an email or with a concept and an idea and they got to look into it and then decide yay or nay, is that how it works?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Yes. So, stores can actually go online with the National Indigenous Australians Agency or Outback Stores and have a look at the process Trev.
TRENDY TREV: Yes.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: And if it's something that interests them, then they can make contact. It is for remote stores, so you'll see a list there of what is defined as remote. There are some stores that are not defined as remote and so they may not get on in this sort of first round, but I am interested to have a look once we do a review of how this policy is rolling out. And in that review I will be asking questions or asking them to ask questions about those stores that aren't able to sign up and how many of those are there. So, this is a good problem to have.
TRENDY TREV: Good. It is.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: It just means that things are working and we're seeing a better cost of living for mob in our remote stores.
TRENDY TREV: A concept of go a mile, see a mile, having a conversation, looking at if it works or not or what have you, but it is working. People are smiling. Cheaper groceries, essential stuff, items. So, very important. Thank you for sharing and look, let's keep in touch and we'll yarn down the track. Good to have a yarn. You take care my sister.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Okay. See you.
TRENDY TREV: Bye bye. A beautiful yarn there. That's Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians and Senator for the Northern Territory and very excited about the 100 remote stores signed up, now enrolled in the Low Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme.