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Survey: The Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme – Post-Implementation Review  

This survey asks for your views on an Australian Government initiative that is making up to 30 items cheaper in remote stores. The initiative started on 1 July 2025 and is called The Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme).  

We want to hear from people and organisations with an interest in remote stores and cheaper prices, including: 

  • Remote store owners, boards, managers and staff 
  • Suppliers to remote stores 
  • Customers of remote stores. 

Your survey answers will help improve how the Scheme is delivered. At the end of the survey, you also can upload a written submission or other supporting information.  

Personal information collected through this survey and submissions will be handled according to Australian Government privacy requirements.

Survey and Submissions close 11:59pm Monday 16 March 2026 

Scheme Overview 

Remote stores participating in the Scheme can sell up to 30 products at cheaper prices. The items in the Scheme are purchased from Outback Stores at a subsidised price, including freight. Remote stores must then sell those items at a cheaper price clearly marked on the shelves (the Intended Maximum Price).

Stores participating in the Scheme must be signed up to the National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations that sets out governance, operations and health standards for remote stores. Stores must be meeting or working towards the minimum standards of the Code.  

Which best describes you?
Do you identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person?
Where does your company or store operate?

(select all that apply)
Does your community store participate in the Scheme to sell cheaper items?
Have your seen this sign on shelves in your store?

A store sign wobbler with the Commonwealth Coat of Arms logo and cheaper prices for you printed on it

Awareness and Communication 

Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme

How easy is it for you to find out information on the Scheme?
Does information on the Scheme tell you enough about how the Scheme works?

National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations

How much do you know about the Code?
Is information on the Code easy to find?

Outback Stores

Did you know stores participating in the Scheme are not required to be managed by Outback Stores? Management arrangements remain a decision for store owners and boards.

Questions only for remote residents with participating stores

Your experience with the Scheme

Do these signs help you know which items in your store are cheaper (on the Scheme)?

A store sign wobbler with the Commonwealth Coat of Arms logo and cheaper prices for you printed on it
How many items with the cheaper prices signs do you usually buy when shopping?
In the last month, how often were the items with the cheaper prices signs that you usually buy missing when you looked for them?
Do you think the items marked with this sign are cheaper than they were before?

A store sign wobbler with the Commonwealth Coat of Arms logo and cheaper prices for you printed on it

How do the discount signs in store change what you are buying:

You buy more cheaper items with the signs
You buy more other items (anything else in the store)

Pricing  

Items on the Scheme must be sold by participating stores at or below the “Intended Maximum Price” to make sure the right discount is applied.  

Did you know cheaper items on the Scheme must be sold at or below a specific price – the Intended Maximum Price?
Do you know where to find the Intended Maximum Price for the cheaper items on the Scheme?

Remote Store Participation in the Scheme  

Do you promote the items on the Scheme to customers?

Please rate your experience with:

Clarity of the Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme Rules and Guidelines
Clarity of the National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations Rules and Guidelines
Application and onboarding process
Reporting and monitoring requirements
Intended Maximum Price/pricing process (clarity, updates, implementation)
Freight and delivery arrangements
Support from NIAA
Support from Outback Stores
Support from Monash University
Select the 4 most important supports that would make participation in the Scheme easier for remote stores
What are the main reasons you are not participating in the Scheme?
(Select all that apply)
Since joining the Scheme, have you noticed changes to the amount or types of items sold in your store?
Since joining the Scheme, how often do the subsidised items sell out?
Consider this on average across the Scheme items you stock.
Since joining the Scheme, how easy has it been to stock the items purchased through Outback Stores?

Remote Store Participation in the National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations

Do you know about the standards required by the Code?
How important is it for a remote store accessing the Scheme to meet the minimum standards of the Code?
How easy is it for a remote store to meet the minimum standards of the Code?

Outback Stores Role

 Are they easy/difficult to work with, why/why not?

Market Competition & Supply Chain

Please indicate any impacts on your business resulting from the Scheme (select all that apply):

Please indicate any impacts on your business resulting from the Scheme:
(Select all that apply)
Limit of 3 attachments, maximum file size 10mb
Maximum 3 files.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, tif, txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, zip.

Suitability of subsidised items on the Scheme  

Cheaper items provided by the Scheme are...
In your opinion, are the cheaper items helping people in remote communities afford what they need?

Accessibility & Equity

Do any stores, groups or communities experience barriers that limit their ability to benefit from the Scheme?

What’s Working / What to Improve

Final Details

Would you like to attach a submission or supporting documents (e.g., receipts, photos of pricing/signage, a written statement)?
3 files allowed, maximum file size limit 10mb
Maximum 3 files.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, eps, tif, txt, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, zip.
Can we publish your submission on the NIAA website?