Alice Springs Remote Food Security Roundtable ‘very productive’

A roundtable meeting aimed at discussing the issue of making food more affordable in remote areas was “very productive”, says the man chairing the gathering, which was attended by Country Liberal Party figures Senator Jacinta Price and Lingiari candidate Lisa Siebert.

On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the Alice Springs Remote Food Security Roundtable was attended by more than 30 people, including NT Senator Jacinta Price and CLP candidate for Lingiari Lisa Siebert.

A roundtable meeting aimed at discussing the issue of making food more affordable in remote areas was “very productive”, says the man chairing the gathering, which was attended by Country Liberal Party figures Senator Jacinta Price and Lingiari candidate Lisa Siebert.

On Tuesday, the Alice Springs Remote Food Security Roundtable was attended by more than 30 people, including leaders across the grocery, transport and freight industries.

Led by the Chair of the Central Australian Committee of the NT Chamber of Commerce Brad Gaddes, the meeting was used to discuss the Albanese Government announcement last week that 30 essential items in 76 remote communities would be capped to the same price people would “pay in the city”.

Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, Mr Gaddes said the announcement lacked detail.

“From what we do know, it will only offer a band-aid solution to a complex problem,” he said.

“There should be an industry wide freight subsidy that applies to all freight on all grocery items to all shops in all remote communities.”

On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the Alice Springs Remote Food Security Roundtable was attended by more than 30 people, including NT Senator Jacinta Price and CLP candidate for Lingiari Lisa Siebert.

On Tuesday afternoon, however, Mr Gaddes emerged from the meeting optimistic key stakeholders were on the same page to improving food affordability.

“Today’s roundtable was very productive, with industry expressing its concerns with the current policy of subsidising 30 grocery items in 76 stores, and offering more workable solutions,” he said.

“On the table today was an industry-wide freight subsidy to improve affordability of all foods, a review of the fuel tax and better co-ordination between the Territory and Australian Governments.”

Of note, Outback Stores stated there were four options for subsidies which are currently being considered by the Federal Government, being inbound freight, outbound freight, item-level subsidies and the injection of a discount at point of sale.

It was also heard freight companies emphasised food security was not just about pricing, but access and infrastructure.

Mr Gaddes said remote Australians “deserve access to cheaper food”.

Mr Gaddes said Tuesday’s discussion points could be “game changers” in lowering all food prices rather than “picking a few”.

“What we don’t want is a system that picks winners and dictates what tries to unduly influence what people can and cannot eat,” he said.

“All Australians living remotely deserve access to cheaper food.”

Mr Gaddes maintained a consensus was achieved within the meeting.

“All participants agreed that this was a useful first step in ensuring that a wider range of industry voices were at the table shaping policy on remote food.”

Originally published as Alice Springs Remote Food Security Roundtable ‘very productive’