rising costs in remote Qld

Marine freight company Sea Swift is likely to play a big role in the rollout of the subsidy and chief executive Dwayne Freeman said it would work with the government to help communities get the most bang for their back.

“We welcome today’s freight subsidy announcement made at the cost-of-living summit on Thursday Island,” he told Cape York Weekly

“Sea Swift has long been supportive of any initiatives to reduce costs felt by the remote communities we service.

“The combination of the remoteness of the communities and the long and fractured supply chain results in higher costs to the customers in these communities.

“We will work with the communities and government on the structure of the subsidy to ensure the communities receive the full benefit.”

Supermarket operator Community Enterprise Queensland went into Monday’s summit full of hope that solutions would be found to help ease the burden on families.

“Like everyone else, we are concerned about the current rate of inflation and the impact this is having on the communities we serve,” CEO Michael Dykes said.

“Average freight costs have increased 12 per cent in two years, and CEQ does not raise our prices to cover freight costs, we absorb them over the entire business.

“We also have cost burdens not

Cape York Weekly

A PUBLIC forum scheduled in Weipa to discuss a Treaty in Queensland failed to attract a crowd on Monday.

The reason? No one was told about it.

The forum wasn’t widely advertised and wasn’t listed on any public notice boards.

Cape York Weekly first heard about it on Friday when a poorly-timed media release hit our inbox.

We raised the issue with Member for Cook Cynthia Lui on Sunday.

faced by other store operators, such as requirements for satellite IT back-up and back-up power generators, with the most recent generator costing $500,000 at our main (Thursday Island) store.

“We want CEQ to continue to deliver affordable groceries to families in some of the most remote parts of Australia to ensure that the communities where we operate enjoy the same quality and choice as people living in larger centres at the best possible price.”

Despite rising freight costs, CEQ said it regularly performed better than mainland rivals when it came to pricing on healthy items.

It also has the same price for fresh produce and meat across all CEQ stores, meaning consumers at Napranum or Lockhart River pay the same as those shopping at Doomadgee or an outer island.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said she recognised the struggle for families in remote areas and said there would be more action to come from Monday’s summit.

“Fuel, food and utility costs have all increased, and we understand the impact these rises have on households and businesses,” she said.

“I’ve been advocating strongly for government and private enter- prise to collaborate to bring down the cost of freight to these regions.

“If we can reduce the cost of getting goods and services into these remote parts of Queensland, we will reduce financial pressures on households and businesses.”

Meanwhile, the state and federal governments announced a joint $80 million package on Sunday to upgrade marine infrastructure in the Torres Strait.

The money, to be spent over the next six years, will target jetty and boat ramp infrastructure in urgent need of repair and upgrades, which the governments hope will also help increase freight efficiency.

She said she put it on her Facebook page last week.

It’s a shame hardly anyone went to the Weipa forum considering the importance of the conversation.

The Interim Truth and Treaty Body is visiting communities across the state to talk about the Truth and Treaty process in Queensland.

Meetings are scheduled in Cairns, Thursday Island, Palm Island and Townsville this week.

Will Cape York get another visit? Time will tell.