CEQ Delivers $500,000 Cost-Of-Living Relief For Palm Island

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.

“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."

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."

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson welcomed CEQ’s initiative to ease the cost-of-living crunch for Palm Island.

“Their Good Pasin’ program already supported more than 400 applications in the last financial year for local sporting clubs, community events, and cultural festivals." Minister Simpson said.

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.

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.

CEQ manages the Islanders Board of Industry and Service (IBIS) and Aboriginal Business, Industry and Service (ABIS) stores, as well as other stores, including Col Jones and Community Home and Hardware, and Mona’s Bazaar and Mitre 10 on Waibene.

For more information on CEQ, visit www.ceqld.org.au