Outrage as food bosses rake it in
COOK MP Cynthia Lui says she is “absolutely outraged” by lavish bonuses paid to executives of the statutory body charged with keeping down the price of fruit and vegetables in remote indigenous communities.
The six executive members of indigenous retail operator Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) received a combined $135,000 in performance bonuses last year, including a $60,000 sweetener for chief executive director Ian Copeland.
“While whopping bonuses may seem as a job well done for CEQ executives, my communities are still heavily challenged by the high cost of living,” Ms Lui said in a statement.
“The Cook electorate takes in a large number of small remote communities where CEQ is often the only option for food and essential goods.
“I am absolutely outraged by this abhorrent decision because CEQ executive bonuses will do nothing to change the challenges relating to high cost of living affecting vulnerable communities who are already severely disadvantaged socially and economically.”
Mr Copeland’s entire wage for the 2018-19 financial year totalled $424,000.
The body, which operates 26 stores in remote areas across Queensland, turned over $98.1 million last financial year and donated $95,000 towards local events in the communities it served.
Ms Lui said it was not good enough considering the persistently exorbitant cost of fresh food in those communities compared to their metropolitan and regional neighbours.
“Communities should rightly expect that every dollar of profit that CEQ makes should be used to reduce food prices in communities that have some of the highest food prices in the country,” she said.
“I have today called the Deputy Premier and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership to register my outrage and have sought an urgent briefing on the matter.”
CEQ has been asked for comment.