Fruit and vegetable traders at the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne have undertaken a strike for the first time in 150 years, citing financial mismanagement by the Melbourne City Council and its management, Queen Victoria Market (QVM) Pty Ltd. The dispute has arisen due to recent increases in electricity and waste management costs, which traders allege are being unjustly shifted onto them to address budgetary shortfalls.
Stallholders have previously included these costs within their stall fees, but the current regulatory changes have led to a spike in expenses that they claim are unfairly burdensome. Roughly a dozen traders gathered outside the QVM offices to voice their concerns, highlighting a significant decline in customer numbers for fresh produce. Trader Frank Fontana noted that traders have received no transparency regarding cost breakdowns from QVM’s leadership.
Contrary to claims of rising electricity costs, reports from the Victorian Auditor-General reveal that expenses associated with electricity have significantly decreased over the past six years. Traders assert that the waste management contract is not only overpriced but poorly managed. With stall fees increasing by about 4% each year, they argue that the new charges constitute “unjust double-dipping.”
CEO Matt Elliott expressed disappointment regarding the protests and clarified that after ten years, the rent for a single stall has gone up only minimally, presumably to keep trading affordable amidst rising operational costs. He emphasized that the adjustments were communicated to traders in August 2023 and invited discussions for those wishing to address the changes constructively.
Elliott also mentioned that while this small group of traders has chosen to close their stalls, the wider market continues to operate, and he thanked customers for their understanding during this period. The unfolding situation reflects the ongoing tensions as traders contend with rising operational costs while striving to maintain customers amidst changing market dynamics.