Freight support

By MATT NICHOLLS

CAPE York families should soon see some relief at the supermarket register after the state government announced a $64 million package to help reduce the cost of freight in remote Queensland.

The announcement, made in the

Torres Strait on Monday, comes after the Torres and Cape Indigenous Council Alliance commissioned an independent study into a freight subsidy for remote areas, which was released last month.

The state’s package, to last at least five years, directly addresses the rising cost-of-living battles facing families and businesses in the Cape, Torres Strait and Gulf.

“We listened to the community. We’re delivering this funding package to tackle that challenge head on,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in a statement.

The announcement was immediately welcomed by a number of major stakeholders in the Far North, including TCICA chair Robbie Sands, Sea Swift CEO Dwayne Freeman and CEQ chief executive Michael Dykes.

Further support could also be coming following the successful summit on Thursday Island.

Full story – Pages 4 and 5