The Albanese government has vowed to improve food security in remote Aboriginal communities with an investment of more than one million dollars on a range of projects.
In the remote Northern Territory community of Robinson River, about 800 kilometres south east of Katherine, $69,000 will go towards crucial supply flights of food and essentials to help ensure access to food during the wet season, when the community is cut off for several months at a time.
Nearly $570,000 will go towards major upgrades to the Urapunga Store, 600km south-east of Darwin, to convert an existing structure into an insulated and enclosed fully fledged store. The upgrades will include installation of air-conditioning, energy efficient electrical systems and a new fuel pump to better service the local community.
On Croker Island, 250 kilometres north east of Darwin, the Minjilang Community regularly experiences extreme weather events that disrupt and often delay their weekly barge resupply. A $100,000 investment will ensure the community now has a purpose built freezer and food storage facility.
In Central Australia, more than $97,000 for the Atitjere Homelands Store Aboriginal Corporation has gone towards their new forklift and 24 hour fuel payment system.
The Mt Liebig community, 300 kilometres west of Alice Springs, will have better access to nutritious and healthy food, with $128,000 to deliver new take away meal facilities.
And in the far west of New South Wales, a $99,000 investment will fund urgently needed upgrades to the Darling River Supermarket in Menindee, recently purchased by the Menindee Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The federal government said on Thursday that it is working in "genuine partnership" with Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations, and state and territory governments, to improve food security in remote First Nations communities.
The government noted it has committed $11.8 million to develop and implement a National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities.
Minjilang Community Store Manager Nora Fay said that in their remote island community residents "often experience unpredictable weather which means unpredictable resupply of food and essentials on the barge service".
"With our new freezer and food storage facilities, we can now place bigger orders and hold more stock," she said.
"This will bring peace of mind to the community, ensuring we're better stocked with food and essentials."
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said "we have heard from many people living in remote communities that one of the biggest issues is access to affordable, fresh and healthy food".
"As we've seen in some parts of the country, food supplies are affected by extreme weather events, cutting off communities," she said.
"We are supporting these initiatives because we know food security underpins the health and wellbeing of First Nations people living in remote communities."
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy noted that dood insecurity disproportionately affects First Nations people living in remote communities.
"That's why we're delivering these latest projects, ensuring more people have access to better quality food," she said.
"Many remote communities don't have the option to shop around to buy their groceries and essentials at different stores.
"That's why we're backing the infrastructure and support to ensure the essential services that provide affordable, accessible and healthy food to their community. "Good nutrition and food security is critical to achieving better health outcomes, preventing chronic illness, and closing the gap."
