Central Land Council representatives travelled to Canberra this week to confront legislators with the stark reality of the cost of living in remote and regional Australia.

Council members Roxanne Kenny and Maryanne Malbunka, joined by CLC general manager Dr Josie Douglas, are in the capital for Anti-Poverty Week to explain to members of parliament how families are struggling to survive amid soaring prices for fuel and household goods.

"Every politician says they are worried about Australians doing it tough. This week decision makers in Canberra are finding out ... just how tough things are for Aboriginal people and why the poor pay more for where they live," the CLC noted in a statement on Wednesday, noting that many people "can no longer afford to drive hundreds of kilometres to town to find cheaper options and shop around to make ends meet".

"The already high costs of the basics are worsening," the Land Council said.

"In remote communities, living costs are 40 per cent more than in the nearest town. Kids are going hungry. People can't afford to keep their power on over long hot desert summers."

The CLC noted conditions are dangerous for the elderly, babies and infants and make food storage and cooling almost impossible.

"It doesn't have to be this way. There is a solution. CLC members believe substantially lifting the remote area allowance for the first time in more than 25 years will make a difference to their families. They have been calling for this for a long time, but their voices go unheard," the Land Council said.

The Hawke government brought in the allowance in 1984 to help compensate for the higher living costs out bush - $7 a week back when a litre of fuel cost 50 cents and a litre of milk 70 cents. Today it pays $9.10 a week, at a time when diesel costs up to $4 a litre in some communities.

The Australian Council of Social Services and the Economic Justice Alliance are two of 30 organisations from across the country backing the call to lift the allowance to $121.30 a week.

On Thursday morning ACOSS and the EJA joined the Central Land Council for a press conference in parliament's Mural Hall.

"Our people are suffering," Ms Kenny said.

"Fuel can be up to $4 or more and the community shops are so dear. You walk in with a $100 you come out with just one plastic bag.

"The Remote Area Allowance is basically lolly money, enough for bubble gum. On school holidays I have about 20 people in my three-bedroom house to feed."

Ms Malbunka said she is very worried about families on income support.

"Just one day after payday - by the time they've paid for groceries at our expensive local shop, their rent, their phone, fuel or the Bush Bus - they're broke and have to borrow from other family or go hungry," she said.

"They can only afford pre-paid electricity for the first four days of the fortnight and get into big debt to keep the power on. My partner and I have full-time jobs and struggle to also support family on income support."

Dr Douglas said raising the remote area allowance is "one compassionate and practical thing politicians can do right now to relieve the extreme cost of living crisis faced by the poorest Australians out bush".

"The allowance clearly hasn't kept up with the skyrocketing prices in remote communities for a long time, but people are now at breaking point. We implore anyone who believes in a fair go to support a meaningful increase," she said.