Queensland Labor leader Steven Miles shadowed by Cairns MP Michael Healy. Photo: Supplied.
Queensland Labor leader Steven Miles has accused the Crisafulli LNP Government of making grocery bills more expensive for isolated Far North Queensland communities.
However, Cook MP David Kempton quickly returned fire, accusing the opposition of “scaremongering”.
Budget documents show $4.4 million has been allocated to the Remote Communities Freight Assistance Scheme (or Cape Freight Retail Subsidy) over the next 12 months, down from almost $30 million the previous financial year.
The scheme involves eligible business owners accessing freight discounts on essential goods (many foods, drinks and household items used for domestic purposes), with savings then passed on to the consumer.
“Cost of living pressures in Queensland and particularly our remote regions, have not magically disappeared. In fact, things are getting more expensive by the day,” Mr Miles said.
“Budgets are about decisions and the Premier (David Crisafulli) has made the decision to make grocery bills more expensive for those living on the Cape, in the Gulf and in the Torres Strait. That’s despite the government making billions in additional royalties thanks to Trump’s war.
“It is simply indefensible that David Kempton and the Premier have slashed funding for this scheme instead of boosting it.”
However, Mr Kempton said the current government funded the scheme with $19.6 million through to 2029, confirmed the scheme would remain in place and that Labor left his party in a difficult position when it was ousted.
He said Labor “increased the subsidy four-fold just before the 2024 election with no long-term plan to address the cost-of-living pressures facing the communities after 10 years of decline”.
Mr Kempton said the issue went beyond the scheme because the cost of freight – “on not just food but all commodities including housing, motor vehicles, boats, clothes, white goods and other everyday items” – was the single biggest issue for remote communities.
Isolated towns like Weipa on Cape York face higher costs for essential goods. Photo: Supplied.
“I can assure residents in remote towns and communities that there will be no change to the current subsidy arrangements until we have consulted with councils and communities and worked out a long-term equitable solution to the cost-of-living pressure,” he said.
Mr Miles, backed by Cairns MP Michael Healy during a visit to the city on Wednesday (15 July), said his former government ramped up the scheme discount to 20 per cent before the election to ease cost-of-living pressures.
He said there had also been a nine per cent increase in pilotage fees for sea freight in February under the current government, on top of indexation, which meant Thursday Island, Weipa and other communities have been forking out more.
Mr Healy pointed the finger at Mr Kempton.
“David Kempton has made a choice to make groceries more expensive for families already doing it tough in the Torres Strait and across the Cape,” he said.
“When the cost of getting food to remote communities is already sky high, cutting this support is the last thing people need.
“Queenslanders expect their government to ease cost of living pressures, not make them worse, but that’s exactly what David Kempton and this Premier are doing.”
Cook MP David Kempton says there has been no change to the scheme arrangements. Photo: Supplied.
Mr Kempton called on Mr Healy to “phone up” his Labor colleagues and get a commitment from the Federal Government that part of its $55 million Transport Resilience And Capacity Kickstart (TRACK) pilot program to incentivise more cargo moving on trains and cargo ships would “get more freight moving by sea to Torres Strait”.
“Michael Healy is big on talk but lacking in action,” Mr Kempton said.
Current participants in the scheme include The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation ATF Island & Cape Retail Enterprises Trust, Umagico Store and Injinoo Store.
Original Article published by Luke Mortimer on Region Tropical North Queensland.
