As dusk approaches, a warm breeze sweeps across the Gulf of Carpentaria, carrying the sounds of the Yunkaporta family in Aurukun, Queensland. Barefoot and surrounded by tall grass, they gather clumps of grass seeds, a contemporary method to supplement their income. The Yunkaportas, like many families in the area, are collecting seeds to sell to mining company Rio Tinto. This peaceful scene is underscored by the harsh reality of rising living costs.

Eloise Yunkaporta, with her baby daughter on her hip, expresses the financial strain on her community. "A weekly shop would cost me about $1,000 for only seven or eight bags of shopping," she says. She is responsible for buying groceries for her entire family, including meat, vegetables, and fruit. "The cost just blows my mind," she adds.

Wik Elder Aunty Phylis Yunkaporta, Eloise's mother, emphasizes the need for the community to find ways to manage expenses. "I feel people in mainstream communities have no understanding of what goes on in Aboriginal communities and what we face every day," she states. "In Aurukun, we struggle; the food I buy, I have to share with the family next door. Nobody goes hungry."

Aurukun is one of Australia's most disadvantaged communities, with a median weekly income of $1,000 for a household of four. The local supermarket and café serve a population of about 1,100 people. During a visit in May, prices at the supermarket were notably high. Eloise describes the situation as "ridiculous," stating, "I would rather look after my family than the whole family to starve, but as a community, it's hard living."

Basic food items are significantly more expensive in Aurukun. A loaf of bread can cost $7 to $8, while a 1.8 kg frozen beef roast is around $80. Fresh produce prices are often double or triple those found in major supermarkets. For example, a bunch of broccolini costs $6.19 compared to $2 at larger chains, and oranges are priced at $7.15 per kilogram, while a 3 kg bag at Coles is $6.90.

The Queensland government provides subsidies for fruit, vegetables, meat, and dairy in remote communities, applying a 20% discount at checkout. However, high-sugar items are excluded from this subsidy. Locals report that feeding a family can cost thousands of dollars monthly, even with state assistance. Eloise notes, "Most of our families receive family tax benefits, and it's not much to get them through several weeks. It's all spent in one or two days."

The general store in Aurukun, part of the Island and Cape chain owned by the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation, is essential for the community. CEO Alastair King acknowledges the challenges of maintaining affordable prices. "A remote supermarket is everything to everyone... we've got to cater for newborn babies, children, as well as carry coffins for end of life," he explains.

King points out that remote stores face higher costs due to limited buying power compared to larger chains. They purchase through wholesalers and pay 20% to 30% more than major supermarkets. Additionally, transportation costs to deliver goods to Aurukun, which is classified as "very remote," further inflate prices.

During the wet season, access to the community can be severely limited, forcing stores to fly in fresh produce, which adds to expenses. Aunty Phylis highlights the struggle many locals face, stating, "They'd probably only have $20 to go to the supermarket to buy the basic food they'd need for the night to eat. In Aurukun, we struggle."

The Yunkaporta family’s seed collection is not a traditional practice but a means to earn money. They sell the seeds to Rio Tinto through Neale Dahl, known as "The Seed Man." Dahl explains that locals collect about 35 different species of seeds, earning varying amounts per kilo based on collection difficulty. The program has been running for around 20 years, with collectors potentially earning $300 to $350 per kilo.

Aunty Phylis believes that some of the profits from Rio Tinto's bauxite mining should benefit local communities. "I feel there really needs to be some sort of compensation deposited into a fund to help lessen the load on the families," she says, noting the health issues prevalent in the community due to high living costs.

In July, the federal government launched the Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme to help reduce grocery prices in remote areas. Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy acknowledges the stark price differences between remote and urban stores. The scheme aims to make prices for 30 grocery categories more comparable to those in cities.

Operators must sign a code of conduct to access the $50 million subsidy scheme, which has seen over 110 stores, including Aurukun, participate. The scheme is administered by Outback Stores, which reports that the cost of a basket of essential items has decreased significantly due to the subsidy. The federal government is considering expanding the list of subsidized items in the future.

Rio Tinto has been approached for comment regarding the situation in Aurukun.