Thursday, 6 March 2025

Regional food insecurity

Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (18:01): (1494) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Carers and Volunteers, and the action that I seek is for the minister to commit to providing food relief agencies with ongoing recurrent funding commencing in the 2025–26 state budget.

FoodShare and similar food relief organisations provide an incredibly valuable service to Victorians most in need of help. They receive food that might otherwise go to waste, as well as donated food, and distribute it to Victorians in need. The Victorian Council of Social Service’s poverty maps show that food insecurity is particularly bad in regional Victoria, where over 80 per cent of rural and regional local government areas had poverty rates of 10 per cent and above.

I have been a longstanding supporter of the incredible work done by my local Shepparton FoodShare and other food relief organisations around northern Victoria. Over the last five years I have continuously advocated for the Victorian government to provide funds for the construction of new warehouses for Bendigo FoodShare and Shepparton FoodShare, so I was very glad to see both organisations receive a mix of state and federal government funding, along with generous donations from the community. Bendigo FoodShare was able to move into a new warehouse that opened last year, and Shepparton FoodShare will relocate to their permanent home in the coming months. Shepparton FoodShare has always operated and continues to operate without any recurrent funding from government and relies on its own fundraising efforts, community generosity and philanthropy to cover its ongoing operational costs. There is a trend for an increase in demand, but last year saw a 30 per cent jump in daily food orders as the cost-of-living crisis hit families hard.

FoodShares cannot continue to meet rising demand without long-term operational investment. For this reason, a number of regional FoodShare organisations, including Shepparton, Albury Wodonga, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura and Warrnambool have formed the Regional Food Security Alliance to advocate for more and ongoing funding to keep their doors open to continue to serve their communities. Members of the Regional Food Security Alliance all face the same problem of depending on an annual cycle of one-off grants that leaves them vulnerable to changes in government policy and budgeting. Without predictable and reliable funding, it makes it difficult for these organisations to operate a consistent and reliable service for those who depend on their help. It also makes it hard to plan for the future, expand their services and attract key permanent staff, who understandably are reluctant to join an organisation that may not be able to pay their salary next year.

Recommendation 21 of the final report of the inquiry into food security recommended that the Victorian government provide the food relief sector with recurrent funding to ensure it can address both current demand and future challenges. Members of the Regional Food Security Alliance are seeking ongoing recurrent funding from the Victorian government commencing in the 2025–26 state budget.