Woolworths is blaming panic buying, Coles supply chain issues, but either way the toilet paper wars of 2020 are back in Queensland supermarkets.
Key points:
- Toilet paper, fresh produce, meat, and long-life items are all in short supply at supermarkets around Queensland
- Major chains say panic buying and supply chain issues are to blame for the empty shelves
- A change to COVID testing requirements for truck drivers is expected to improve delays in the supply chain, but won't be a cure-all
As COVID-19 case numbers rise, store shelves across the state are bare with shoppers reporting bread, meat, fresh produce, and long-life items are also hard to come by.
Nambour local Emily Mumford said she was surprised to find her local Aldi had run out of all meat, most fruit and vegetables, as well as long-life milk, freezer items, and cat litter.
"People [were] walking around looking shocked and trying to work out what to get for dinner instead," she said.
“A lot of the produce left was in poor condition.
"It was the first time I've seen the supermarkets like that."
Ms Mumford said she had to go elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast, including butchers and fruit shops, for meat and vegetables, although strangely toilet paper was in stock at the store she visited.
"I think now it's a really important time, more than ever, to start shopping locally and supporting smaller businesses," she said.
Other shoppers took to social media to complain about similar scenes in Coles and Woolworths.
"Went to shop today at Woolworths Kingaroy. Not a single loaf of bread, no toilet paper, and cereals depleted," South Burnett resident Doreen Ward wrote.
Locals also reported low stock at stores in Toowoomba, Highfields, Stanthorpe, and Brisbane.
Supermarkets under pressure
A Woolworths spokesperson told the ABC panic buying was part of the problem for stock shortages and the supermarket was not experiencing any "current, direct impacts" of supply chain issues.
But Coles said it was impacted by a number of supply chain issues, including reduced transport capacity and availability of shipping pallets.
"We apologise to our customers if an item they wish to purchase is unavailable when they do their shopping, and our team are working hard to replenish our shelves as quickly as possible," the spokesperson said.
"We are also seeing an increased number of team members being required to isolate due to household exposure to COVID while they wait for test results."
Aldi said the ongoing COVID-19 situation had put "additional pressure" on its operations.
Hope as truckies given more freedom
The Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) said a strict requirement — scrapped yesterday — for truck drivers entering Queensland to return a negative PCR test every seven days had exacerbated supply chain issues.
QTA president Gary Mahon said drivers entering through New South Wales were being turned away from busy testing queues due to not having symptoms which had essentially locked them out of the state and delayed deliveries.
He expected delays would improve under the changes, but he said a shortage of truck drivers still posed a problem for the supply chain.
"Certainly it's a relief that we don't have to put our drivers into these queues for PCR testing and wait these considerable time periods for results," Mr Mahon said.
"If an interstate driver had been doing interstate work over the last two years on a consistent basis, they would have had, as a minimum, 150 PCR tests.
"This change … is great progress. Now let's see if we can't make drivers more available in the supply chain.
"Companies are looking for drivers every day of the week."
Vulnerable people hit hardest
Charities around the state are feeling the impacts of empty shelves as essential items become harder to source or increase in price.
Foodbank Queensland chief executive Sara Harrup said vulnerable people were usually hit hardest as many could not afford to buy in bulk to compete with panic-buying.
"Many Queenslanders are living week to week," she said.
"They are much less likely to have safeguards against changes in the external environment, including affordable food and groceries suddenly being unavailable or unaffordable.
"When the food supply chain is disrupted by events such as panic buying Foodbank Queensland struggles to source enough food to distribute across the state to people who need it most.
"The impacts … are making it even harder for many Queensland families to put food on the table."
Australian Red Cross Queensland director Garry Page urged people to be considerate of others while shopping.
"If you don't stockpile, it makes it easier for everybody," he said.
"Think of what you really need — maybe a few days worth, but not a few months."
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