March 26, 2020
Member for Maranoa David Littleproud has called on supermarkets to “do the right thing” by their rural customers and restock their shelves.
He said communities across his electorate were finding it difficult to source supplies.
Mr Littleproud urged supermarkets to optimise their supply chains to move goods around rural and remote parts so that everyone could get their fair share.
“There are loyal customers and station owners out there travelling for hours to find that the goods they want – rice, chickpeas, fresh fruit and vegies, toilet paper – are in limited stock or unavailable,” Mr Littleproud said.
“I urge supermarkets to work with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Coordination Commission to deal with the economic and social problems rural and remote communities are facing as a result of this pandemic.
“Supermarkets need to work with the ACCC on guaranteeing that their loyal customers and the primary producers are getting access to supplies they need without hurdles.
“We’re talking about loyal customers, station owners with multiple workers to feed and people who live far enough from the grocery store that they can only make a trip every fortnight.
“The irony here is that these stations are the ones growing the food that supermarkets are putting on their shelves.
“Yes, hoarders have put major stress on the supply chains but we’ve got to get this right, now.
“We grow enough food for 75 million people and for any Australian to go without in this situation is just not on.
“COVID-19 is affecting us all and I urge the supermarket giants to step up and not leave rural and remote communities disadvantaged.”
