Food security

A secure food supply — one that is reliable, healthy and reasonably priced — is the norm in Australia. However, it has long been a major problem for people living in remote Indigenous communities.

What needs improving?

Community stores are often the only provider in remote communities. They are small scale, distant from major food distribution centres, and liable to be cut off in the Wet season. Prices are often high, and until recent years fresh food may not have been available at all.

What is being done?

Food security has been a major focus of the NTER. A licensing scheme for community stores has required store managers to offer a range of healthy food and drink and make it attractive to customers. The licensing of 92 stories has resulted in significant improvements not just in food quality but in management practices, hygiene and the employment of Indigenous staff. It has meant the end of ‘book up’, freeing many people from a cycle of debt.

The Commonwealth company, Outback Stores, is available to take over the running of stores that are not commercially viable but nevertheless needed in their community. $51.8 million has recently been allocated from the Aboriginals Benefit Account for a stores infrastructure project that will provide new stores, upgrade stores and improve housing for store managers across 18 communities. Additional funding for stores infrastructure is also available through the licensing scheme and Outback Stores.

A recent independent evaluation found that the licensing scheme has expanded the range of health food and improved pricing, store environments and financial transparency. Some ‘rogue traders’ have left the sector. However, the cost of food and quality of take-away food continues to be a problem.

Directions for the future?

Communities should have stores that provide an environment, choice and pricing that is as close as possible to what is available in non-remote areas of the Northern Territory.

The Government supports the continuation of the licensing scheme, and will address issues raised in the evaluation. Further reforms in the areas of regulation, management support, infrastructure and supply could be considered.

This is not just an issue for government. The operators of stores and the communities that own them also have responsibilities. The evaluation reflected some concern at the scale of government intervention and control. The Government wants to support ownership by local people of stores that are well-run businesses contributing to the community’s health.

The Government wants to hear from community people how this balance can best be achieved.