Submissions to the federal inquiry into food security in remote Australia, which was set up in May following reports of shortages during the initial Covid-19 shutdown, have called into question the management of remote community stores by the federally funded, not-for-profit Outback Stores.
Outback Stores manages 40 remote stores across South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. CEO Michael Borg told the inquiry Outback uses its income to support community stores, 26 of which “are unviable or barely viable” because of remoteness and a small population base.
“One of the main objectives has been, and continues to be, maintaining food security to these stores while also having a significant focus on health and wellbeing for community members,” Borg said.
Outback Stores manages 40 remote stores across South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. CEO Michael Borg told the inquiry Outback uses its income to support community stores, 26 of which “are unviable or barely viable” because of remoteness and a small population base.
“One of the main objectives has been, and continues to be, maintaining food security to these stores while also having a significant focus on health and wellbeing for community members,” Borg said.
That is disputed by other statements to the inquiry in several submissions from community members, whose names have been withheld.
“The reality is that when you step into the shop, you step into a strange dimension where Spam, two-minute noodles and white bread appear to be the only food option and if you are hungry you buy what is in front of you,” one wrote.
Another submission said the “only store that we have is Outback stores within a 300km radius. The prices of products in this store are disgusting. The range of products is also disgusting. Who needs one full bay of white and brown sugar in a small store like the one we have here? It has been said that our remote stores are giving healthy options to our Indigenous communities, that is bullshit.”
The inquiry also heard that poverty is the single greatest contributor to food insecurity.
In 2019, 26% of Aboriginal people nationally lived in a household which, in the previous 12 months, had run out of food and could not afford to buy more.
In remote communities, the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health survey (NATSIHS) found, 43% of Indigenous people reported having gone without food in the previous 12 months.
Dr Francis Markham and Dr Sean Kerins of the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at the Australian National University said in remote areas food insecurity is becoming more prevalent.
“The greatest barrier facing residents in remote communities from having reliable access to affordable fresh and healthy food, groceries and other essential supplies is poverty. It is not a lack of food in communities which is the primary cause of food insecurity; it is a lack of money."
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