Funding to deliver one million litres of UHT milk to families in need

The Gillard Government is providing a $300,000 funding boost to enable Foodbank Australia to launch a program to distribute a million litres of UHT milk a year to Australian families in need.

The Minister for Community Services, Julie Collins, today announced the one-off additional grant during a visit to Foodbank Australia in Hobart.

“The Australian Government is committed to helping not-for-profit organisations such as Foodbank deliver essential services to vulnerable Australians and I’m pleased to announce this $300,000 boost for the support of Australians in most need,” Ms Collins said.

“The Government is proud to be working together with Foodbank to secure food supplies so struggling families and individuals can have food on their table each night.

“This funding will help Foodbank, in partnership with the Australian dairy industry, deliver its new UHT Milk program.

“It’s hoped this extra funding will allow Foodbank to distribute one million litres of UHT milk each year. Foodbank and the dairy industry are already working together to deliver another million litres of fresh milk.

“Today’s funding is in addition to the $4 million over four years the Gillard Government has committed to Foodbank.

“For every $1 invested by the Gillard Government, Foodbank works with businesses to manufacture $7 worth of food,” Ms Collins said.

Foodbank Australia provides food and grocery supplies to 2,500 not-for-profit organisations across Australia and last year delivered 21 million kilograms of food to Australian families.

“This is the equivalent of 75,000 meals a day and goes some way to meeting the need for essential foods such as vegetables, fruit and milk,” Ms Collins said.

“I look forward to working with Foodbank in its commendable goal of delivering 50 million kilograms of food by 2015.”