Further cost of living relief may be on the cards for Cape York and Torres Strait residents after the new LNP State Government committed to investigating the efficacy of the Remote Communities Freight Assistance Scheme. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Genuine cost of living relief may be on the cards for Cape York and Torres Strait residents at their wits’ end with skyrocketing household expenses.
Premier David Crisafulli has committed to investigating the existing State Government Remote Communities Freight Assistance Scheme and whether it is having any discernible positive impact on the hip pockets of those living in the northernmost part of Queensland.
The former Labor government increased the subsidy received by residents of Cape York, Torres Strait and the Gulf of Carpentaria to 20 per cent in September, but only on items deemed “eligible essential goods”, such as milk, bread, fruit and vegetables, at retailers participating in the scheme.
Former premier Steven Miles was criticised for failing to recognise other everyday items like fuel, clothing and whitegoods as essential, leading many shoppers and community leaders to question whether the subsidy was really easing cost of living pressures.
On 7 November, a spokeswoman for Premier Crisafulli told Cape York Weekly the new government would look at the scheme and whether change was needed.
“Driving down the skyrocketing cost of living for Queenslanders, including in remote and regional Queensland, is a major priority for the Crisafulli Government, and the Minister for Transport and Main Roads is seeking information from the department regarding the freight subsidy scheme,” the spokeswoman said.
“Labor failed to deliver for our Cape and Torres communities over a number of years, and only in the shadow of an election attempted to distract from their failures in these communities.”
