Foodbank Australia funding announcement, Hobart, Tasmania
Good morning.
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which meet today and pay my respects to the Elders, past and present
I also want to thank Foodbank Australia for your great contribution in helping some of our most vulnerable Australians both here in Tasmania and around the country
I am always happy to be back in my home State, meeting with such inspirational people who are working tirelessly in our community to support those in need.
As the Member for Franklin, I hear on the ground about how your work is having a direct impact on people’s lives.
You do more than provide struggling families and disadvantaged Australians with food for their table – you also give them hope.
Last year, you delivered 21 million kilograms of food to families across the country – that’s the equivalent of 75,000 meals a day.
In Tasmania over the last six months of 2011 alone you provided over 135,000 kilograms of food.
This was distributed to 130 welfare agencies and provided more than 180,000 meals for Tasmanians in need.
Extra funding for Foodbank Australia
The Australian Government welcomes your extraordinary efforts to support those who need a helping hand.
Foodbank has set itself a target of delivering 50 million kilograms of food by 2015 – more than double your achievement of last year.
We know more people than ever are knocking on the doors of community organisations.
It’s my pleasure to announce the Australian Government will invest a further $300,000 in Foodbank Australia for a new support program.
This extra funding will enable Foodbank launch its UHT Milk program to distribute a million litres of UHT milk a year to Australian families in need.
Foodbank, in partnership with the Australian dairy industry will provide this basic of life to vulnerable and disadvantaged families around the country.
Relief agencies are telling us milk is one of the essentials most requested by vulnerable Australians and their families.
Foodbank and the dairy industry are already working together to deliver a million litres a year of fresh milk to Australians in need.
This funding gives you the opportunity to continue to provide much needed food relief, with added certainty into the future.
This investment is also a major boost for local community organisations like Colony 47, Anglicare, Unitingcare, Hobart Women’s Shelter and the Hobart City Mission, which distribute this food to the community.
The Australian Government is committed to helping not-for-profit organisations such as Foodbank Australia deliver essential services to vulnerable Australians.
Australian Government support for Foodbank
This extra funding is on top of the Australian Government’s investment of $4 million over four years to your organisation’s Collaborative Supply Program.
This will enable your Program to continue to meet the deficit in donations of essential foods such as breakfast cereals, fresh milk, pasta and pasta sauce, fresh fruit and vegetables.
For every $1 invested by the Gillard Government, Foodbank works with businesses to manufacture $7 worth of food.
I’m particularly proud to see our investment has helped you establish a distribution centre here in Tasmania, which is helping to reach even more vulnerable Tasmanians.
Conclusion
Again, I congratulate you for your outstanding work in helping many thousands of Australians in need.
I’m proud to be part of a Government that continues to support not-for profit organisations like Foodbank Australia.
Collaboration between governments, business and the community sector plays an important role in ensuring more food and meals are getting to the most vulnerable in our communities.
I look forward to continuing this partnership to help you achieve your commendable goal of delivering 50 million kilograms of food by 2015.
Thank you.
ENDS