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Woolworths has eased its restrictions for some rural customers, but remote shoppers struggling to get supplies say more is needed to help them feed their families during COVID-19.
People who live long distances from grocery stores have been calling for grocery stores to ease their grocery limits for people who can only shop once or twice a month.
Woolworths has announced they will triple the amount people can purchase if they live more than 100 kilometres away from their closest store.
But this only applies for people who had previously registered as Woolworth Rewards Customers.
People who regularly make bulk orders with the supermarket can also qualify, but anyone wanting to buy more than the purchasing limits must show their ID and a letter from the supermarket.
In a statement, Woolworths said they were "working to improve their stock levels and have reinstated their grocery pick-up service in more than 700 stores nationwide".
But residents say they are struggling to get the essential items they need to feed their families and staff on their remote properties.
Struggling to feed the family
Belinda Bell is a mother of three in Warren in western New South Wales — 40km from the closest town and a 360km road trip from Dubbo.
Members of her family have both coeliac disease and asthma, so they have chosen to stay on their farm to avoid possible exposure to coronavirus. It also means they have special food requirements.
Ms Bell said they were having huge problems getting supplies and even when they travelled the long distances to shop, they often found the shelves bare.
"Usually I'd buy what we need to get us through for a fortnight or even three weeks but I can't, and it's just made it so hard," Ms Bell said.
"Now we're doing self-isolation I'm getting my husband to go into town to the local store and it's either costing us a fortune or they don't have what we need in stock."
Ms Bell said it would help her family if small, local stores were able to access products or if stores could prioritise staples for rural shoppers.
"I'm trying to feed my family without staples like flour and rice," Ms Bell said.
"We have a gluten intolerance and usually we'd go to Dubbo to get our flours and gluten-free supplies.
"Now we're trying not to go into Dubbo, but local stores like our IGA can't get the supplies we need and it costs twice as much."
Ms Bell said it was important for remote residents to avoid travelling into major hubs and risk exposing their communities to COVID-19.
"Businesses should have more of an idea of the needs of rural residents. Two bags of flour doesn't last long," she said.
"Businesses need to be more sympathetic and say 'They live far away, let's let them get what they need so they can self-isolate'."
A national problem
This problem was being faced by people all over Australia.
Mother-of-three Bronwyn Ferguson lives near Blackbutt in Queensland, and said getting groceries was becoming hard and extremely expensive.
"We only go fortnightly to save on fuel. Now when we go in there's nothing to buy then there are restrictions on what we want to buy," Ms Ferguson said.
"Our budget's taken a hit because then you have to travel back again. A two-hour round trip isn't as cheap for us compared to people who live in a city.
"The travel money comes out of your grocery budget and things have gone up in price, which we expected, but it doesn't help when you're having to go back and forth to the store a couple of times a week."
'Hurting' regional Australia
Ms Ferguson said the rules needed to be re-examined.
"It's a good start in the right direction, but what if you're not a Woolworths rewards customer? And are the products going to be on the shelf when you get there?" she said.
"I hope Coles follows in the right direction. I've emailed Woolworths, Coles and Premier and had no response."
"To me it sounds like they're happy for us to starve to reassure the masses and people in the city that everything's OK."
A starting point
The Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, has been campaigning for the supermarkets to look after people who live remotely and are struggling to get supplies during COVID-19.
He said this was a start, but more needed to be done.
"It's not going to solve the problems for everyone, there's a lot of people who can't afford to travel a 100km round trip every day or every other day," he said.
The western New South Wales MP hoped the changed shopping restrictions could be extended.
"I'd love to see this widened and I'd love to see the distance decreased," he said.
"The reason [you need to be an existing Everyday Rewards customer to qualify] is because by using existing customers, Woolworths knows what they buy and can factor in their purchasing patterns into their orders.
"Otherwise the supermarkets wouldn't be able to keep stock on the shelves."
Mr Butler said shoppers also had a part to play to help rural residents get groceries.
"We really need to get back to people just buying what they need to buy. Then there'll be enough stock for everyone," he said.
"The toilet paper issue — I think people are still scratching their heads over how hoarding toilet paper can fix an issue like coronavirus."