Tuesday 17 September 2024
Victorians should brace themselves for higher food prices as wholesale vendors face a massive 70 per cent rent hike across 10 years.
The Allan Labor Government plans to increase rent for stall holders at Melbourne Wholesale Fruit Vegetable and Flower Market in Epping by more than seven per cent each year for 10 years.
This will lead to soaring fruit and vegetable prices, adding to the burden on families amidst a cost-of-living crisis.
Fruit and vegetable producers and stall holders have confirmed they will have no choice but to pass on this cost to Victorian consumers.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, said: “This is another desperate money grab for the Allan Labor Government that pretends to care about our cost-of-living crisis.”
“Stall holders, many of whom are family businesses, will struggle to absorb these costs, which will flow through the supply chain leading to higher prices at the check-out,” Ms Kealy said.
“Reviews, undertaken by the Labor Government in 2020, found the market to be operating effectively, but no certainty has been provided to stall holders as to what the future of the markets will be.
“The Allan Labor Government’s priority should be to support our local producers and ensure fresh, affordable food for Victorians, not charge them more to pay for their financial mismanagement.
“This has come at a time when primary producer’s backs are up against the wall amid increasing cost of food production.
“Labor Minister for Agriculture, Ros Spence, must come out and tell these hard-working family businesses what their future looks like.
“The Allan Labor Government must halt this rent increase and work with vendors to find a fair solution that doesn’t punish consumers and the agriculture industry.
”Labor can’t manage money and Victorians are paying the price.”
