‘Crippling’ cost of living in remote communities to come under spotlight

Appalled by the cost of every day basics during a visit to Thursday Island, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pledged a cost of living summit would be held, and now a date has been set.

A cost of living summit will be held on Thursday Island on March 20 with pressures in the Torres Strait “three times” what the rest of Queensland experiences, State MP for Cook Cynthia Lui has announced.

She has urged residents to contact her to share how the high cost of living in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) is affecting people.

The move follows a pledge by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to hold a summit, made when a cabinet meeting was held on Thursday Island last September.

Ms Lui said further details of who would attend the summit would be announced soon.

Cook MP Cynthia Lui has announced a cost of living summit will be held on Thursday Island on March 20. Picture: Isaac McCarthy

Ms Palaszczuk noted the pressures felt in the Torres Strait — particularly the outer islands — were “three times” what Queenslanders in the South East were experiencing.

At the time of her visit, petrol was $2.39 a litre and diesel was $2.59 a litre, the cheapest loaf of white bread at the island’s main grocery store was priced at $4.49, 1kg of tomatoes cost $10, Cavendish bananas were $4.99 per kg, and a 250g stick of salted butter cost $5.

“I want an equal playing field, I want to make sure that there is no disadvantage when it comes to people who are living in some of the most remote parts of our state,” Ms Palaszczuk said at the time.

Torres Strait Regional Council Mayor Yen Loban said the high costs of living was crippling the region’s communities.

Originally published as ‘Crippling’ cost of living in remote communities to come under spotlight