Liberals commit $50 million to Foodbank and other food charities
The Liberal party will commit $50 million to food charity services, like Murray Bridge's Foodbank, if elected on May 3.
An elected Liberal Government will give back $50 million to food relief charities like Foodbank to help them expand vital services across the country, if elected.
Food insecurity is currently impacting many communities across Barker with but despite best effort the unmet demand for food relief is 1,197,278 kilograms.
Foodbank have supplied 976,491 kilograms of food relief, both direct and indirect in the Barker electorate.
Member for Barker, Tony Pasin MP said more than 35% of people in Barker have experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months.
“Australia’s food relief sector has been calling on the Labor government to provide an urgent and dramatic increase in funding to respond to the unprecedented levels of demand for food relief,” Mr Pasin said.
This includes Australians who have never previously relied on that support, he said.
Earlier this week the party also pledged $400,000 to help upgrade the Players and Singers building.
Those living in regional communities are 37% more likely to require food relief than those living in metro.
The full funding comprises of:
- $20 million in the first year (2025-26), to provide immediate support to Australians in need, with $10 million for the three national food relief charities and $10 million for other charities providing food support; and
- $10 million each year from 2026 to 2029, to further support the three national food relief charities.
Foodbank Australia CEO Brianna Casey has has described the funding announcement as an important acknowledgement of the growing demand for food relief in local communities.
“Despite Foodbank sourcing a quarter of a million meals a day and supporting more than one million people a month, the organisation is acutely aware that demand is outstripping supply.
"With the cost-of-living crisis also driving up the cost of sourcing, storing and transporting food relief,” said Ms Casey.
Nearly two million Australian households of all age groups and demographics have experienced severe food insecurity in the past 12 months.
The federal election is to be held on May 3.
