PGA returns after administration to continue to fight against 'costly' government interventions

Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA president Tony Seabrook says the 118-year-old organisation is 'back in full force' to protect its community which has been 'shunned' by both State and Federal governments.
The farmer advocacy group fell into administration in January after a $1m-plus claim from the Australian Taxation Office for a long-running debt.
Administrator RSM probed the 'the organisation's financial irregularities' and referred the matter to WA Police, rocking the industry in the lead-up to the State and Federal elections.
But the association moved back into its office in West Perth in early March and Mr Seabrook said the association was ready to put the 'difficult period' behind it and continue to prioritise its members.
'None of the members within the association were in any way involved in anything that has happened,' he said.
'There's an ongoing police investigation and we're awaiting to see what they dig up. Until then, we will continue to advocate for the needs of our members.
'We exist to service our members to the very best of our ability and also the broader agricultural industry.'
Mr Seabrook said it was a time of great turmoil for farmers.
'We're doing what we do to protect our members and our community at a time where we have a State Government and a Federal Government that doesn't really seem to care very much about agriculture,' he said.
'Our main focus has always been to service and protect our members against the ignorance and stupidity of government and bureaucracy.
'We provide a very worthwhile service to all of our members because we want to look after them.'
The industry is currently being rocked by several State and Federal government interventions, including electronic sheep and goat identification, tax on unrealised gains, new firearms regulations — and the subsequent issues with the new online portal — and the live sheep export ban.
Mr Seabrook is among many WA farmers who have decreased their flock in the wake of the live sheep export ban, decreasing his flock from 3000 to 150 head in recent months due to sky-high operational costs.
Mr Seabrook said the PGA would continue to advocate against these interventions which are 'costing' regional communities.
'The phased transition to mandatory electronic identification for sheep and goats by July 1, 2026 is another nail in the coffin for farmers,' he said.
'While the tax on unrealised gains is unfair and unreasonable, and fails to acknowledge the impact on rural farming families.'

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News.com.au

19 hours ago

• News.com.au

Melbourne homebuyers missing out on super hack

A growing number of young Melbourne homebuyers are using a little-known super hack to beat the property market — but hundreds of thousands of others are still missing out. Finder analysis of SuperRatings data has revealed that in 190 Melbourne suburbs, house prices failed to keep pace with the average 5.7 per cent annual return delivered by top-performing superannuation funds over the past decade. That means savvy buyers who contributed voluntarily into super rather than racing into the property market in those suburbs could have ended up ahead, growing a deposit faster than prices climbed. These suburbs include a mix of prestige pockets such as Docklands, Carlton, Parkville and St Kilda West, as well as outer-fringe areas like Cranbourne South, where growth has lagged super returns. In contrast, more than 100 other suburbs, particularly in Melbourne's booming outer west and north, outpaced super fund performance. Despite the clear financial benefits, the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS), which allows Australians to grow a deposit inside super, remains significantly underused. According to the latest Australian Taxation Office data, just 27,000 Australians have accessed the scheme since it began, withdrawing a combined $370m in voluntary contributions. Yet nearly half of those — 16,500 — were Victorian buyers, indicating strong uptake in the state. However, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show there were more than 231,000 new loans issued to first-home buyers in Victoria between the 2018 and 2024 financial years, suggesting almost 93 per cent of eligible buyers never used the scheme. Super Members Council chief executive Misha Schubert said younger Australians should not have to choose between homeownership and a secure retirement. 'They deserve the same opportunities as previous generations to have both a home and strong retirement savings,' Ms Schubert said. 'As a result of Super Guarantee rate rises from 9 to 12 per cent over the past decade, the average 30-year-old today will be more than $130,000 better off in retirement. 'That's why protecting the core of super is so important.' Under the scheme, eligible first-home buyers can contribute up to $15,000 per year and a total of $50,000 in voluntary super contributions — which can later be withdrawn to use as a house deposit. The strategy is particularly appealing for disciplined savers, as it takes advantage of concessional tax treatment and compound growth within a super fund. Experts say it could be a powerful way to close the deposit gap for many young Australians locked out of their preferred suburbs. Smart Lending managing director Melissa Gielnik said the scheme remained an under-utilised financial tool, especially for buyers in their 20s and 30s. 'In a lot of cases, the First Home Super Saver Scheme can deliver a better outcome than a standard savings account or term deposit, and it's a huge help in a rising market,' Ms Gielnik said. OpenCorp chief executive Cam McLellan said while super performance had been solid, property still offered unique advantages that couldn't be overlooked. 'Super returns sound solid, but property has a massive advantage with leverage,' Mr McLellan said. 'With a 20 per cent deposit, you control the full value of the asset, and that means better real-world outcomes — especially when you factor in rental income and tax benefits.' Mr McLellan said successful investors often used a blend of both strategies, depending on their income and long-term goals. 'Some reduce their super contributions while building a property portfolio,' he said. 'Others use a self-managed super fund to buy property inside super. The smart ones use both.' M R Advocacy director Madeleine Roberts said more younger buyers were also turning to rentvesting — renting in their preferred lifestyle locations while investing in more affordable growth suburbs. 'They're realising it's a smart way to get ahead without giving up lifestyle,' Ms Roberts said. 'We're seeing savvy buyers take a strategic approach. 'They're arming themselves with the right information and using it to their advantage.' She said that while super could be a useful long-term growth tool, the right property purchase in the right location had the potential to outperform in real dollar terms, particularly when timed well. 'Smart property decisions can absolutely beat super, even in the short term,' Ms Roberts said. 'But it all comes down to timing and knowing where to buy. 'Sometimes the best move is to buy, wait for it to mature in value, and then reinvest somewhere else.' With Melbourne's housing market showing signs of recovery after a turbulent few years, experts say the combination of rising super balances, accessible government schemes, and flexible strategies like rentvesting could redefine the first-home buyer experience. It helps close the affordability gap for a generation of buyers priced out of the traditional path to homeownership. Ms Schubert said one of the scheme's biggest strengths was that it didn't require buyers to compromise their long-term financial wellbeing. 'It doesn't damage the safe deposit box that protects their employer super contributions, which they will need to deliver regular income to live on in retirement,' she said. 'It's a win-win, and we'd love to see more young Australians taking advantage of it.' Additional reporting by Nathan Mawby Disclaimer: OpenCorp does not provide financial advice about SMSFs or superannuation. Always consult a licensed financial adviser before making decisions regarding your super or establishing an SMSF. Melbourne suburbs where super outperformed houses Suburb Property Type 10-Year Property Return % Docklands H -1 Parkville H -0.3 Cranbourne South H 0.2 Werribee South H 0.3 Nar Nar Goon North H 0.9 Middle Park H 1.2 Carlton H 1.3 St Kilda West H 1.6 Toorak H 2.4 Armadale H 2.4 South Melbourne H 2.5 Williamstown North H 2.5 Glen Huntly H 2.6 Flemington H 2.6 Fitzroy North H 2.7 Box Hill H 2.8 Richmond H 2.8 Malvern East H 2.9 Cremorne H 2.9 Ashburton H 3 Prahran H 3 Elsternwick H 3.1 Princes Hill H 3.1 Mont Albert H 3.2 South Yarra H 3.2 St Kilda H 3.2 Bulleen H 3.2 Kew H 3.3 Mont Albert North H 3.3 Balaclava H 3.3 Windsor H 3.3 West Footscray H 3.3 Heidelberg Heights H 3.3 Caulfield North H 3.4 Caulfield South H 3.4 Doncaster H 3.4 Brooklyn H 3.4 Ripponlea H 3.5 Port Melbourne H 3.5 Maidstone H 3.5 Box Hill South H 3.6 Chadstone H 3.6 Maribyrnong H 3.6 Balwyn North H 3.7 Oakleigh East H 3.7 Collingwood H 3.7 Kensington H 3.7 Camberwell H 3.8 Glen Iris H 3.8 St Kilda East H 3.8 Belgrave South H 3.8 Seddon H 3.8 Footscray H 3.8 McKinnon H 3.9 Alphington H 3.9 Box Hill North H 3.9 Heidelberg H 3.9 Oakleigh H 3.9 Essendon North H 3.9 Heatherton H 3.9 Mount Dandenong H 3.9 Elwood H 4 Ivanhoe H 4 Fitzroy H 4 West Melbourne H 4 Balwyn H 4.1 Hawthorn East H 4.1 Surrey Hills H 4.1 Albert Park H 4.1 Templestowe H 4.1 Templestowe Lower H 4.1 Braybrook H 4.1 Bentleigh H 4.2 Mount Waverley H 4.2 Blackburn H 4.2 Williamstown H 4.2 Clifton Hill H 4.2 Burwood H 4.2 Ashwood H 4.2 Ascot Vale H 4.2 Forest Hill H 4.2 Yarraville H 4.2 Watsonia North H 4.2 Bundoora H 4.2 Springvale H 4.2 Brighton East H 4.3 Glen Waverley H 4.3 Burwood East H 4.3 Moorabbin H 4.3 Heathmont H 4.3 Knoxfield H 4.3 Keilor Park H 4.3 Warrandyte H 4.4 North Melbourne H 4.4 Blackburn North H 4.4 Abbotsford H 4.4 Viewbank H 4.4 Nunawading H 4.4 Pascoe Vale H 4.4 Croydon North H 4.4 Attwood H 4.4 Westmeadows H 4.4 Malvern H 4.5 Ormond H 4.5 Moonee Ponds H 4.5 Hughesdale H 4.5 Mitcham H 4.5 Huntingdale H 4.5 Bonbeach H 4.5 Ringwood H 4.5 Airport West H 4.5 Bayswater H 4.5 Caulfield H 4.6 Murrumbeena H 4.6 Ringwood East H 4.6 Altona North H 4.6 Avonsleigh H 4.6 Canterbury H 4.7 Brighton H 4.7 Kew East H 4.7 Carnegie H 4.7 Blackburn South H 4.7 Mentone H 4.7 Brunswick West H 4.7 Brunswick H 4.7 Macleod H 4.7 Kingsbury H 4.7 Eaglemont H 4.8 Ivanhoe East H 4.8 Sandringham H 4.8 Carlton North H 4.8 Donvale H 4.8 Hampton East H 4.8 Wheelers Hill H 4.8 Thornbury H 4.8 Coburg H 4.8 Rowville H 4.8 Bellfield H 4.8 Scoresby H 4.8 Gowanbrae H 4.8 New Gisborne H 4.8 Sunshine H 4.8 Brookfield H 4.8 Vermont H 4.9 Wantirna H 4.9 Clarinda H 4.9 Clayton South H 4.9 Sassafras H 4.9 Reservoir H 4.9 Croydon South H 4.9 Greenvale H 4.9 Boronia H 4.9 Caroline Springs H 4.9 Fairfield H 5 Brunswick East H 5 Newport H 5 Cheltenham H 5 Patterson Lakes H 5 Oakleigh South H 5 Yallambie H 5 Coburg North H 5 Wattle Glen H 5 Cairnlea H 5 The Basin H 5 Springvale South H 5 Glenroy H 5 Fawkner H 5 Broadmeadows H 5 Hampton H 5.1 Niddrie H 5.1 Clayton H 5.1 Seaholme H 5.1 South Kingsville H 5.1 Oak Park H 5.1 Keilor East H 5.1 Ferntree Gully H 5.1 Selby H 5.1 Eumemmerring H 5.1 Laverton H 5.1 Bentleigh East H 5.2 Parkdale H 5.2 Vermont South H 5.2 Mordialloc H 5.2 Ringwood North H 5.2 Preston H 5.2 Mulgrave H 5.2 Strathmore Heights H 5.2 Briar Hill H 5.2 Avondale Heights H 5.2 Croydon H 5.2 Hadfield H 5.2 Sunshine North H 5.2 Deepdene H 5.3 East Melbourne H 5.3 Black Rock H 5.3 Beaumaris H 5.3 Northcote H 5.3 Doncaster East H 5.3 Highett H 5.3 Rosanna H 5.3 Pascoe Vale South H 5.3 Greensborough H 5.3 Watsonia H 5.3 Taylors Hill H 5.3 Kalorama H 5.3 Noble Park H 5.3 Burnside Heights H 5.3 Roxburgh Park H 5.3 Tarneit H 5.3 Chelsea H 5.4 Carrum H 5.4 Albion H 5.4 Dandenong H 5.4 Altona Meadows H 5.4 Hawthorn H 5.5 Essendon H 5.5 Eltham North H 5.5 Botanic Ridge H 5.5 Chirnside Park H 5.5 Lilydale H 5.5 Mooroolbark H 5.5 Lynbrook H 5.5 Sunshine West H 5.5 Wallan H 5.5 Bacchus Marsh H 5.5 Plenty H 5.6 Kingsville H 5.6 Eltham H 5.6 Notting Hill H 5.6 Montmorency H 5.6 Upper Ferntree Gully H 5.6 Epping H 5.6 St Albans H 5.6 Melbourne suburbs where houses outperformed super Suburb Property Type 10-Year Property Return % Cobblebank H 14.6 Aintree H 14 Mickleham H 13.5 Weir Views H 12.6 Portsea H 11.3 Red Hill H 11.3 Wesburn H 10.7 Fraser Rise H 10.7 Bittern H 10.1 Cannons Creek H 10.1 St Andrews Beach H 9.7 Diggers Rest H 9.3 Kinglake H 9.2 Cape Schanck H 9.1 Harkaway H 9 Wandong H 8.8 Lang Lang H 8.8 Officer H 8.6 Mount Macedon H 8.3 Melton South H 8.3 Sorrento H 8.2 Pakenham Upper H 8.2 Balnarring H 8.2 Yarrambat H 8.1 Blairgowrie H 8.1 Frankston North H 8.1 Millgrove H 8.1 Safety Beach H 8 Nyora H 8 Baxter H 8 Cranbourne West H 8 Rockbank H 8 McCrae H 7.9 Kinglake West H 7.9 East Warburton H 7.9 Fingal H 7.8 Crib Point H 7.8 Belgrave Heights H 7.7 Gembrook H 7.7 Tyabb H 7.6 Launching Place H 7.6 Clyde North H 7.6 Junction Village H 7.6 Essendon West H 7.5 Somerville H 7.5 Mount Martha H 7.4 Frankston South H 7.4 Carrum Downs H 7.4 Devon Meadows H 7.3 Narre Warren North H 7.2 Seville East H 7.2 Warburton H 7.2 Gruyere H 7.1 North Warrandyte H 7.1 Hurstbridge H 7.1 Rye H 7.1 Tootgarook H 7.1 Melton H 7.1 Balnarring Beach H 7 Mount Eliza H 7 Diamond Creek H 7 Keilor Lodge H 7 Burnside H 7 Cranbourne North H 7 Beaconsfield Upper H 6.9 Warranwood H 6.9 Langwarrin H 6.9 Garfield H 6.9 Edithvale H 6.8 Ferny Creek H 6.8 Dromana H 6.8 Romsey H 6.8 Eynesbury H 6.8 Yarra Junction H 6.8 Hampton Park H 6.8 Cranbourne H 6.8 Werribee H 6.8 Kurunjang H 6.8 Frankston H 6.7 Capel Sound H 6.7 Woori Yallock H 6.7 Hastings H 6.7 Maddingley H 6.7 Wyndham Vale H 6.7 Coolaroo H 6.7 Lower Plenty H 6.6 Kilsyth South H 6.6 Macedon H 6.6 Keysborough H 6.6 Seville H 6.6 Rosebud H 6.6 Wollert H 6.6 Koo Wee Rup H 6.6 Research H 6.5 Lysterfield H 6.5 Aspendale Gardens H 6.5 Emerald H 6.5 Wandin North H 6.5 Mount Evelyn H 6.5 Coldstream H 6.5 Healesville H 6.5 Skye H 6.5 Narre Warren H 6.5 Sunbury H 6.5 Doveton H 6.5 Strathmore H 6.4 Wonga Park H 6.4 Keilor H 6.4 Sandhurst H 6.4 Gisborne H 6.4 Williams Landing H 6.4 Belgrave H 6.4 Albanvale H 6.4 St Helena H 6.3 Pearcedale H 6.3 Montrose H 6.3 Heathcote Junction H 6.3 Mill Park H 6.3 Hallam H 6.3 Blind Bight H 6.3 Pakenham H 6.3 Kings Park H 6.3 Dallas H 6.3 Melton West H 6.3 Aberfeldie H 6.2 Mornington H 6.2 Lyndhurst H 6.2 Narre Warren South H 6.2 Keilor Downs H 6.2 Mernda H 6.2 Hoppers Crossing H 6.2 Meadow Heights H 6.2 Longwarry H 6.2 Lysterfield South H 6.1 Altona H 6.1 Dingley Village H 6.1 Olinda H 6.1 Beaconsfield H 6.1 Taylors Lakes H 6.1 Yarra Glen H 6.1 Berwick H 6.1 Doreen H 6.1 Clyde H 6.1 Deer Park H 6.1 Truganina H 6.1 Badger Creek H 6.1 Somers H 6 Spotswood H 6 Tecoma H 6 Monbulk H 6 Seaford H 6 Hillside H 6 Noble Park North H 6 Seabrook H 6 Delahey H 6 Ardeer H 6 Darley H 6 Kallista H 5.9 Chelsea Heights H 5.9 Bayswater North H 5.9 Endeavour Hills H 5.9 Bunyip H 5.9 Thomastown H 5.9 Craigieburn H 5.9 Croydon Hills H 5.8 Riddells Creek H 5.8 Silvan H 5.8 Heidelberg West H 5.8 Dandenong North H 5.8 Gladstone Park H 5.8 Tullamarine H 5.8 Cranbourne East H 5.8 Lalor H 5.8 Campbellfield H 5.8 Park Orchards H 5.7 Waterways H 5.7 Aspendale H 5.7 Wantirna South H 5.7 Upwey H 5.7 Kilsyth H 5.7 Point Cook H 5.7 South Morang H 5.7 Lancefield H 5.7 Whittlesea H 5.7 Kealba H 5.7 Sydenham H 5.7 Beveridge H 5.7 Manor Lakes H 5.7 Jacana H 5.7 Harkness H 5.7

The Advertiser

a day ago

• The Advertiser

Botched 'dead drop' could land man in jail for life

From a parked van near an inner-city reserve, a man retrieves a sports bag he allegedly believes contains cocaine worth millions. It's called a "dead drop" - with a long history of use in espionage - but unfortunately for the guy who came to collect the package, he was on the wrong side of the intelligence gathering. Federal police had already replaced the 30kg of wrapped cocaine bricks inside the bag and then arrested their suspect at the end of a foot chase following his return with the goods to Sydney's salubrious eastern suburbs. They say they seized the fake cocaine along with encrypted devices and anabolic steroids from his Double Bay home and a nearby unit. Jonathan Lindsay Fagan, 40, has swapped the prestige postcode for a jail cell after declining to apply for bail in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, which can carry a lifetime prison sentence. The case returns to court on Tuesday. The arrest came after a three-month AFP investigation into an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating in Australia. The inquiry had disrupted the group's operations, Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said. "This result should serve as a serious warning to potential drug traffickers in Australia - don't get comfortable - because the AFP is constantly working to target and disrupt your criminal operations and bring you to justice." Police allege the drugs had a potential street value of almost $10 million. Friday's operation came a day after another man flew in to Sydney from Dubai allegedly carrying more than 10kg of cocaine in a suitcase. From a parked van near an inner-city reserve, a man retrieves a sports bag he allegedly believes contains cocaine worth millions. It's called a "dead drop" - with a long history of use in espionage - but unfortunately for the guy who came to collect the package, he was on the wrong side of the intelligence gathering. Federal police had already replaced the 30kg of wrapped cocaine bricks inside the bag and then arrested their suspect at the end of a foot chase following his return with the goods to Sydney's salubrious eastern suburbs. They say they seized the fake cocaine along with encrypted devices and anabolic steroids from his Double Bay home and a nearby unit. Jonathan Lindsay Fagan, 40, has swapped the prestige postcode for a jail cell after declining to apply for bail in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, which can carry a lifetime prison sentence. The case returns to court on Tuesday. The arrest came after a three-month AFP investigation into an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating in Australia. The inquiry had disrupted the group's operations, Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said. "This result should serve as a serious warning to potential drug traffickers in Australia - don't get comfortable - because the AFP is constantly working to target and disrupt your criminal operations and bring you to justice." Police allege the drugs had a potential street value of almost $10 million. Friday's operation came a day after another man flew in to Sydney from Dubai allegedly carrying more than 10kg of cocaine in a suitcase. From a parked van near an inner-city reserve, a man retrieves a sports bag he allegedly believes contains cocaine worth millions. It's called a "dead drop" - with a long history of use in espionage - but unfortunately for the guy who came to collect the package, he was on the wrong side of the intelligence gathering. Federal police had already replaced the 30kg of wrapped cocaine bricks inside the bag and then arrested their suspect at the end of a foot chase following his return with the goods to Sydney's salubrious eastern suburbs. They say they seized the fake cocaine along with encrypted devices and anabolic steroids from his Double Bay home and a nearby unit. Jonathan Lindsay Fagan, 40, has swapped the prestige postcode for a jail cell after declining to apply for bail in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, which can carry a lifetime prison sentence. The case returns to court on Tuesday. The arrest came after a three-month AFP investigation into an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating in Australia. The inquiry had disrupted the group's operations, Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said. "This result should serve as a serious warning to potential drug traffickers in Australia - don't get comfortable - because the AFP is constantly working to target and disrupt your criminal operations and bring you to justice." Police allege the drugs had a potential street value of almost $10 million. Friday's operation came a day after another man flew in to Sydney from Dubai allegedly carrying more than 10kg of cocaine in a suitcase. From a parked van near an inner-city reserve, a man retrieves a sports bag he allegedly believes contains cocaine worth millions. It's called a "dead drop" - with a long history of use in espionage - but unfortunately for the guy who came to collect the package, he was on the wrong side of the intelligence gathering. Federal police had already replaced the 30kg of wrapped cocaine bricks inside the bag and then arrested their suspect at the end of a foot chase following his return with the goods to Sydney's salubrious eastern suburbs. They say they seized the fake cocaine along with encrypted devices and anabolic steroids from his Double Bay home and a nearby unit. Jonathan Lindsay Fagan, 40, has swapped the prestige postcode for a jail cell after declining to apply for bail in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, which can carry a lifetime prison sentence. The case returns to court on Tuesday. The arrest came after a three-month AFP investigation into an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating in Australia. The inquiry had disrupted the group's operations, Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said. "This result should serve as a serious warning to potential drug traffickers in Australia - don't get comfortable - because the AFP is constantly working to target and disrupt your criminal operations and bring you to justice." Police allege the drugs had a potential street value of almost $10 million. Friday's operation came a day after another man flew in to Sydney from Dubai allegedly carrying more than 10kg of cocaine in a suitcase.

West Australian

3 days ago

• West Australian

Small business not convinced there's much in Budget for them but see bigger picture

There was little in the State Budget to excite small business owners with no change in payroll tax and no energy bill credit. Scott Jones has owned Diabolik book and record store in Mount Hawthorn for more than a decade. With this Budget Mr Jones said he was not holding out for much help. 'The only thing that they can possibly help me out with is just another way of offsetting power costs,' he said. 'But in many ways, I don't see what the State Government can actually do to help business, a retail business in Australia, especially under a Federal award.' He said he was not surprised when the Budget was released. 'I can't see anything that's going to change anything, it's not gonna make things any better for us,' he said. 'But then again, I didn't know what to expect to start with anyway, it's usually the federal budget that's more important for me.' While there was little in the Budget to help him, he saw investments to improve housing, health and infrastructure as potentially beneficial to him too. Mr Jones said he could see the benefit of broader cost of living relief on his business. 'Anything that can bring down the cost of living, even if it's just for home buyers or just increasing housing supply to make rent cheaper, any anything like that, in my opinion, is a good thing in for retail anyway,' he said. Mr Jones said he hadn't seen anything in thew Budget which would specifically help him. Over the years Mr Jones said it has become more difficult to run the business. 'It's certainly more difficult to turn a profit with increases in expenses well, just across the board,' he said. 'A lot of it is to do with freight costs and obviously with wage increases, which in my opinion, were well and truly overdue anyway.' Mr Jones said he had made changes to his own work roster to keep the store running. 'It just means that my wife and I basically are working more, we do longer hours,' he said. 'We're doing longer hours probably since COVID finished, it's just necessary if you want to be open like we are for seven days, you have to put in the hours.'