Subject: Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme delivering cost of living relief.
ALLAN NEILSON, HOST: The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to ease cost of living pressures in remote First Nations communities, with 100 stores now enrolled on the Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme. On my program this morning I have Senator Malarndirri McCarthy to share the good news. Welcome to TEABBA.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Hey, good morning Allan and good morning to all your listeners. I'm coming to you standing in the ferry line ready to go across to Palm Island this morning.
ALLAN NEILSON: And I tell you what, Palm Island is beautiful.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: I can't wait, cannot wait. It'll be absolutely wonderful. They've got their festival on today and there's such a massive gathering here at the ferry terminal. We're all hanging out to get on the ferry.
ALLAN NEILSON: Sounds fantastic. Look, for a long time remote Indigenous community members have seen little value for their money when shopping in community stores. And with such a great scheme and something that is a long time coming, I see the Albanese Government is investing $50 million over four years to improve remote food security including reducing the cost of essential items. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely. One of the things that really concerned us when we came into government, certainly in the first term, was the high cost of living for all Australians, but especially our First Nations families in remote and regional Australia. So, when I took on the role as Indigenous Affairs Minister after Linda Burney had sort of set the scene, I was able to step in and really work with our stores across northern Australia to see that we could look at having 30 essential items, Allan, that
could be much cheaper. So, if you were in Palm Island, for example, which is where I'm going today, your store will have 30 items which will be equivalent to the nearest Coles or Woolies and that's really important. So, those items will include essential items obviously, basic foods, vegies, also toiletries, things that matter for families on a day to day.
ALLAN NEILSON: So, basically everyday living items that --
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely.
ALLAN NEILSON: - been, you know, some of the costings in remote communities has been ridiculous. So, this is something long time coming and a great initiative by the Labor Government.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thanks Allan. We're asking stores to sign up. They have to sign up to a code, you know, to a national code of agreement on it because we want to make sure that our stores actually do provide the cheaper cost for consumers for our First Nations families. There are about 100 stores now that have signed up and a lot of those stores are in Far North Queensland, Northern Territory and over in WA.
ALLAN NEILSON: Now that's fantastic. And I noticed that Outback Stores is one of the stores that are signed up. ALPA would be another one here in the NT?
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: So, those stores are really using Outback Stores as kind of the carriage, if you like, in terms of being able to bring the supplies out, making sure that it's the conduit to try and make sure all these foods arrive safely and are there. And of course, the shelves are filled with the items that show how cheap they are. This is going to matter. And if your listeners are tuned in, it'd be really nice to get feedback and I am asking for that everywhere I'm going because I know the stores have signed up, but I also want to hear from First Nations families and consumers in these stores or in these regions to let me know what they think as well. So, feedback's really important.
ALLAN NEILSON: As I said earlier, you know, for a long time, the cost of living in remote Indigenous communities has been over the top and extreme. And this is something that's fantastic and going to free up a bit of money to spend on the kids, I think. So, it's something valuable for all community members.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Absolutely, Allan. And we're very conscious of that as a government and for all Australians. We want to see cost of living reduced for all Australians. And that especially means those Australians living in our remote and regional areas.
ALLAN NEILSON: Thank you for giving us your time this morning on a very busy schedule and sounds like going to be a fun one there over on Palm Island.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: No worries. My absolute pleasure.
ALLAN NEILSON: So, yeah, you'll enjoy that. And congratulations on this and the Labor Government very much will be appreciated by all Indigenous communities, especially here in the Northern Territory.
MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Thanks, Allan. And a big shout out to everyone there back home. Yo, Bauji Barra.