Not-for-profit remote store operator Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) has launched a major cost-of-living support initiative on Palm Island – the Palm Island Essentials Support Scheme – to help local residents balance their household budgets.
Funded under CEQ’s Good Pasin’ (Give-back) program, the scheme will deliver up to $500,000 worth of subsidies on a wide range of everyday products on Palm Island, helping to ease cost-of-living pressures for families and individuals.
The initiative will see prices on key grocery items match or better major supermarket online prices, ensuring Palm Island customers can access affordable essentials close to home.
Price reductions under the scheme will apply to staple grocery items such as eggs, fresh milk, beef mince, flour, rice, women’s hygiene products, baby food, chicken, bread and pasta.
CEQ Chairperson Joann Schmider said the relief measure reflects CEQ’s values and its commitment to community wellbeing.
“This investment to support Palm Island residents means a lot to the Board of CEQ,” Ms Schmider said.
“We are especially mindful of Palm Island’s uniqueness and the financial pressure on families to access the everyday items they need at affordable prices.
“The Board has taken this step to support the community with real, everyday savings. It’s about delivering on CEQ’s vision of Caring, every day, always.”
Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Alf Lacey warmly welcomed the support.
“Palm Island Council is extremely grateful to the CEQ Board of Management for their unwavering support and commitment towards our community,” Mayor Lacey said.
“We highly value our partnership with CEQ, and this initiative shows what can be achieved when we work together to deliver a community-led solution to the cost-of-living crisis.
“It’s a practical and positive step forward.”
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson welcomed CEQ’s initiative to ease the cost-of-living crunch for Palm Island.
“We recently celebrated the first purpose-built modular homes being delivered to Palm Island under our Government, and now locals will see relief at the checkout thanks to Community Enterprise Queensland’s important work,” Minister Simpson said.
“Their Good Pasin’ program already supported more than 400 applications in the last financial year for local sporting clubs, community events, and cultural festivals.
“CEQ truly is part of the social and economic fabric of the communities they service, and these latest subsidies on everyday essentials continue to deliver for the residents they support.”
Ms Schmider said the Board is proud to have made this significant decision for the community of Palm Island.
“We’ve listened to the needs of the Palm Island community, and we’re acting to help ease household pressures,” she said.
“The Palm Island Essentials Support Scheme is a proactive step that we know will make a genuine difference for many local families.”
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About CEQ
CEQ is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for providing goods and essential services to the Torres Strait, Cape York Peninsula and in Doomadgee and on Palm Island through its 31 stores. Of all the remote team members employed at CEQ, 90 per cent identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
CEQ manages Islanders Board of Industry and Service (IBIS) and Aboriginal Business, Industry and Service (ABIS) stores, as well as other stores including Col Jones, Mona’s Bazaar and Mitre 10 on Waibene and Community Home & Hardware in Bamaga.
For more information on CEQ, visit www.ceqld.org.au
