Rising fuel prices will impact the food security and health of rural communities, disproportionately affecting already vulnerable groups.
According to experts, the current fuel shortage will have significant impacts on regional and remote communities across the country in two major areas: access to health care and food security.
Rural areas already pay more for fuel on average, with some parts of northern Australia now charging well over $3 per litre of unleaded petrol. Combined with rising supply fears, the flow on effects could be significant.
“In remote areas, 46% of household incomes earn under $500 per week compared to 26% of houses in non-remote areas. While fuel prices have doubled recently, and are predicted to rise further, this burden is set to be passed onto food and consumables for remote communities,” says Yvette Roe, Professor of Indigenous Health and Director of the Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights at Charles Darwin University.
For some, the choice between travelling for health care or shopping for groceries is becoming a real concern, and the Rural Doctors Association warns that some patients may be forced to make ‘life and death’ decisions.
According to Rural Doctors Association president Sarah Chalmers, “there are circumstances where people feeling the need to delay treatment could be a life and death situation for them.”
“We are definitely in a situation where people may be making decisions that they think are about saving money but actually may cost them more in the long run, including potentially their life.”
This is particularly pertinent for already vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and mothers with young children.
“Mums and babies who require regular check-ups, antenatal care, and access to nutritious food and prenatal vitamins are most at risk of poor health outcomes driven by unsustainable fuel prices,” says Yvette.
Families may not be able to afford to drive to appointments, with poor health outcomes for babies increasing the risk of illness, cognitive development and chronic disease in adulthood.
This is combined with possible knock-on effects that the fuel shortage will have on food access, with many farmers now warning that food prices will rise within weeks as transport businesses struggle to absorb new costs. Since diesel drives food production in Australia, a shortage will impact the entire supply chain.
For remote communities where freight companies must travel further distances, each increase in fuel results in higher food costs that directly impact consumers. For example, some communities in rural Western Australia now report that a 1kg tin of instant coffee costs more than $100.
“As mothers and young family’s costs rise, there is now concern that remote areas are facing starvation, and lack of sanitary and medical items if relief cannot be provided. We can expect to see health outcomes plummet if mothers aren’t supported with financial relief to access health care, food, and medications through this period,” warns Yvette.
Experts are also focused on possible impacts for Indigenous women, who already experience some of the poorest sexual, reproductive, maternal, infant and child health outcomes in the country due to deeply ingrained inequality in our system. For example, preterm birth rates for Indigenous women are often the highest in the country, meaning it is vital that these families can access good nutrition and healthcare when needed.
For Yvette, there is a possible solution. “The Government can show its support for the most vulnerable Australians, and back public opinion that supports further incentives to secure food security.
“Australians feel that the government has both the power, and an obligation to right structural wrongs faced by remote communities, that are now seeing mothers and children without food, medical or infant supplies due to fuel prices.”
To understand the panic buying phenomenon caused by fuel shortages, click here.