Fixing the cost of living by reimagining our local grocery market

The rising cost of our daily bread

As a medical practitioner, I have spent decades listening to the concerns of Western Australians. Lately, the conversation has shifted. It is no longer just about physical health or the stress of the workplace. It is about the gut-wrenching anxiety of the supermarket aisle. Families are walking into stores with a list of essentials and leaving with a sense of defeat. This is not just a minor economic inconvenience. It is a direct threat to the nutritional well-being of our community.

When you see people counting coins at the register or choosing between fresh produce and utility bills, you know the system is failing. In my years as a GP, I never saw a patient cured by red tape or the unchecked greed of a corporate monopoly. We are facing a market that is far too concentrated. The result is a system that extracts maximum profit while our households suffer the consequences of inflated prices.

The case for a smarter model

We need to stop accepting the status quo. Across the world, there are innovative models where grocery stores operate on a cost-recovery basis, or through partnerships with local cooperatives. These are not radical experiments. They are common-sense solutions designed to provide food at honest prices. My motion in the Legislative Council aims to see if we can bring that same innovation home to Western Australia.

I have moved for the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations to investigate the feasibility of a community groceries pilot. We want to know if we can use state-owned assets and direct procurement from our local farmers to bypass the middleman. We need to know if we can build a supply chain that prioritizes people over shareholders. We are looking for data, and we are looking for a path toward a fairer, more sustainable future for every family in this state.

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Evidence over ideology

We are a tribe of forward-thinkers. We value evidence, science, and the welfare of our neighbours. While others focus on the needs of the powerful, we are looking at the mechanics of our economy. The risk of doing nothing is clear: more families pushed to the brink of financial collapse, and more of our hard-earned money flowing out of the state to corporate entities. This is a chance to put the control back into the hands of the community.

You can read the full details of the notice of motion in the official record of the House. If you believe, as I do, that we deserve a food system that serves us rather than rules us, I encourage you to join our movement at the Legalise Cannabis WA website.