MANDATORY unit pricing of Queensland grocery items has the potential to assist families struggling to afford the basics of food and shelter, St Vincent de Paul Society’s Queensland president John Campbell said.
Mr Campbell said such assistance was crucial given that large numbers of Queensland families are having to get by on as little as $50 a week for groceries.
“It’s also a fact that many on a mortgage are only ever three pay packets from homelessness,” Mr Campbell said.
“Lenders have a standard policy that three payments missed – three strikes and you’re out.
“Anything that can help these struggling families is desirable.”
Mr Campbell made the comments in response to the State Government’s proposed changes to fair trading legislation for mandatory unit pricing for grocery products in Queensland.
The Government hopes to have the legislation passed by September for unit pricing to be introduced in 2009.
The changes will mean that supermarkets will have to advertise how much a particular product is per litre or per kilogram, as well as the total price.
It’s then much easier to compare different products.
A trial by the Queensland Consumer Association found savings of up to 47 per cent on an average basket of groceries by using unit pricing.
Mr Campbell said increasing numbers of families were coming to the St Vincent de Paul Society for help in covering rent and electricity costs.
Requests for help were up by as much as 20 per cent in the past 12 months, he said.
Queensland’s St Vincent de Paul Society now has plans in train to update budgeting counseling in preparation for mandatory grocery unit pricing, Mr Campbell said.
Public comment on the proposal is open until July 28.
