NT Cost of living report reveals cost rises in fuel, food and medical services

THE cost of petrol, food and medical services continues to rise across the Territory, according to the latest NT Cost of Living Report, released today

Fuel prices in the NT are up 14 per cent on last year. PICTURE: Bloomberg

THE cost of petrol, food and medical services continues to rise across the Territory, according to the latest NT Cost of Living Report, released today.

Fuel prices are up 14 per cent on last year, after a long stretch of decreasing prices. Fruit and veggies are up 12 per cent.

NT Council of Social Services policy adviser Jonathan Pilbrow said families would feel the increases.

“A 14 per cent fuel increase will be quite a shock to many motorists,” he said. “High costs in critical expenditure areas continue to place great strain on lower income households across the NT.”

Overall, the general CPI was up 0.5 per cent over the past year, which has outpaced Centrelink payments during the same time, Mr Pilbrow said.

“A low generic CPI for Darwin doesn’t necessarily lead to low prices for all of the goods and services that households require — it simply reflects that there have been price rises in some areas and decreases in others.”

Mr Pilbrow said the lack of access to other concessions for people on Newstart and Youth Allowance was contrary to other states.

“It is a concern that in the NT the Pensioner and Carer Concession Scheme does not include people on the lowest incomes in our society,” he said.

NTCOSS is calling on the Federal Government to raise the Newstart rate by at least $50 per week and for the NT Government to expand eligibility for concessions.