Price Caps Introduced for 30 Grocery Items in Indigenous Communities

Thirty essential grocery items will cost the same in remote areas as they do in the cities, the government has announced. The move is part of Closing the Gap.

A general view of a grocery store in Wilcannia, Australia, on Sept. 6, 2021. Jenny Evans/Getty Images

With many of the federal government’s Closing the Gaps targets yet to be met, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a scheme to cap the price of 30 essential grocery items in remote areas as cost of living measure for Indigenous communities.

The limit will apply to products including milk, bread, rice, chicken, toothpaste, and toilet paper across 76 remote stores, ensuring they cost no more than in the cities. The plan also involves boosting warehouse capacity to secure supply chains.