Outback Stores says it’s taken the PM’s remote community price drop pledge one step further

The company which oversees nearly 40 remote Territory community stores says it’s taking Albanese’s price drop pledge one step further. Find out more.

An aerial view of Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte). The community store is run by Outback Stores. Picture: File

The company which manages 58 stores across Australia says it’s looking to up the Prime Minister’s proposal when it comes to subsiding groceries in remote communities.

Outback Stores said it welcomes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement to expand on ongoing trials to subsidise the cost of key selected products in remote Indigenous community stores, “with an aim to improve overall affordability for essential items”.

“In recent months, Outback Stores has been working with key industry stakeholders and the National Indigenous Australians Agency to assist in reducing the sell price on a group of high-volume selling products, in combination with the subsidy program by managing the procurement and logistics of goods directly,” a spokesperson said.

Outback Stores chief executive officer Michael Borg. Picture: Outback Stores

Outback Stores chief executive Michael Borg said the company will continue “to build capabilities” in order to expand the trial “to further support remote community stores outside of our own business network”.

Mr Albanese told parliament during his Closing The Gap speech on Monday that 30 essential products in 76 remote communities will have their prices brought in line with what punters pay in the city.

But the Outback Stores spokesperson said the company currently has “38 items across ten product groups aligned to the trial, matching corporate retail pricing”.

“Some examples of Outback Stores managed sites’ current products and pricing are: 1kg flour – $1.40; one litre UHT milk – $1.60; 750g rolled oats – $1.60; 575g wheat biscuits – $4.50; 100pk of tea bags – $4.50; 12pk toilet paper – $6.00; 500ml shampoo and conditioner – $2.00; medium packs of nappies – $10.99 and 224pk of facial tissues – $1.85,” they said in a statement.

The Outback Stores spokesperson said the list of essential items have been developed by the remote foods working group, which consists of industry, government, and non-government representatives.

Outback Stores is a Commonwealth-owned company, with 38 stores in the NT, with other stores also in WA, SA, and NSW.

Originally published as Outback Stores says it’s taken the PM’s remote community price drop pledge one step further