Consumers to pay for bushfire damage at the supermarket checkout
Shoppers are being warned to expect the price of fruit, vegetables and red meat to soar following ferocious bushfires, while supermarkets are being asked to consider how they could be helping farmers.
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Fruit, vegetable and red meat prices are set to soar following ferocious bushfires and widespread devastation at farms across the country.
Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie on Tuesday said 19,000 farmers, foresters and fishers had been affected and consumers would feel it at the checkout while the industries recovered.
“Supermarkets are letting the Australian public know that they’ll have to pay more for their red meat,” she said.
“That they’ll have to pay more for their fruit and vegetables because of the bushfires and the drought.”
The Nationals Senator asked the supermarkets to consider how they could be helping farmers, including revising the price they pay producers for milk.
“It’s up to the supermarkets to not just talk about being the fresh food people, but get on with supporting in a very real and tangible way because farmers don’t grow food for free,” Ms McKenzie said.
The Federal Government also announced further bushfire relief funding including $75,000 grants to help fire-affected farmers rebuild fences, care for livestock and repair damaged infrastructure.
The money will come from the $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund and is estimated to cost $100 million, but the program will not be capped.
“We need to get this cash in the hands of these producers so they can get on with the jobs that urgently need doing,” Mr Morrison.
Farmers will not need to have their primary residence in the fire-affected area to qualify, and off-farm income will not be factored into the grants.
The Morrison Government will today announce further assistance, with charities on the frontline of the bushfire recovery effort to share in $40 million.
The money will be administered by the charitable organisations for food, clothing, petrol and power bill costs.
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The emergency support will also include a $10 million top-up for the National Debt Helpline ahead of an expected influx of requests.
The funding will be primarily administered by the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul Society and will be focused on getting the basics to the most needy.
“We are hoping this extra support will assist tens of thousands of people affected by bushfires to get through the coming days and weeks,” he said.