Karen Chong imagines herself relaxing with a simple icy pole pleasure when she escapes the scorching sun to rest each afternoon.
But it’s not in the budget.
“Money just goes like that, it’s like spilling a bucket of water,” the 64-year-old said.
Mornington Island residents pay more for groceries than a typical remote mainland community. (Supplied: Antoinette Raffaut)
Life hasn’t been easy for the Lardil elder who was raised in Queensland’s lowest income-earning community, Mornington Island, in the remote Gulf of Carpentaria.
The mostly Indigenous community is home to about 1,000 people.
There’s one thing nearly all residents can agree on — the cost of groceries at the island’s only store is unbearable.
“We can only afford to buy what we need … when I go, I buy a couple of fruits, couple of bananas,” Ms Chong said.
“A packet of flour is $4, it’s probably the cheapest thing you can buy.”
Extra leg of freight
Getting essentials to the island is no easy task.
It can take up to five days to source fresh food from across Queensland.
The typical supply chain involves up to 2,815 kilometres of travel — from Brisbane to Cairns and Cairns to Karumba by road, before trekking across to the island on the weekly barge.
Gulf leader and Gununamanda Community Store chair, Kyle Yanner, said the island paid for an extra leg of freight compared with other remote communities on the mainland.
Kyle Yanner has been vocal about issues plaguing his community for years. (ABC News: Leonie Mellor)
Mr Yanner said the community had to absorb barge costs of about $900,000 a year.
The remote freight subsidy scheme, introduced at the beginning of the year by the former Labor state government, offered a 5.2 per cent discount at the check-out on some items for residents in stores across the Cape York, Torres Strait and Gulf region.
The subsidy was boosted to 20 per cent in the weeks leading up to the state election.
| Product | Gununamanda standard price | Gununamanda price with 20% freight discount | Coles and Woolworths standard price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masterfoods tomato sauce 500ml | $8.60 | $6.88 | $3.80 |
| Birds Eye fish fingers 375g | $10.40 | $8.32 | $6.50 |
| Flora margarine original spread 500g | $9.80 | $7.84 | $5.25 |
| Arnott’s family assorted biscuits 500g | $8.99 | $7.19 | $5 |
| Devondale pure full cream milk UHT 1L | $3.49 | $2.79 | $2.20 |
Mr Yanner said that still wasn’t enough to relieve the burden.
“It went against what our requests were,” he said.
“We asked for a full subsidy for all freight, 20 per cent doesn’t cover anywhere near that.”
He said he could carry $300 worth of groceries in one hand.
“I hear the rest of Queensland are screaming because of the high cost of living … come and check the prices out in remote and very remote communities,” he said.
Desperate for help
The median annual household income for Mornington Island in 2021 was $28,444, compared to the state median of $87,100.
A packet of six hamburger rolls sets Karen Chong back $7.29, compared to $2.85 at Coles and Woolworths. (Supplied: Karen Chong)
Ms Chong said she spent more than 80 per cent of the $640 she earnt each fortnight through the federal government Job Seeker Scheme on groceries.
“The last time I went it was $250,” she said.
She said a top-up shop would cost $100.
“But other families you’re looking at $500–$600,” she said.
“That’s three or four bags worth.
“We don’t have any other option.”
Confectionary is excluded from the discount. (Supplied: Karen Chong)
She and Mr Yanner said they hoped the government could offer more support.
A spokesperson for new Premier David Crisafulli said the government would continue to engage with regional, rural and remote Queenslanders, and drive long-term cost relief for families and small businesses.
Nasal decongestant spray is double the cost on Mornington Island than in mainland supermarkets. (Supplied: Outback Stores)
