Australia’s largest food relief organisation, Foodbank has today received the news that the Federal Government will cut their funding by more than $320,000 as of January 1 2019.
Acting Minister for Communities Shannon Fentiman said the Palaszczuk Government recognised the important role organisations like Foodbank play in achieving this vision.
"The Palaszczuk Government recognises the vital role Foodbank has in providing food security to struggling Queenslanders every day," Ms Fentiman said.
"We are a great supporter of Foodbank Queensland and continue to assist them with funding of almost $1.2 million per year."
"The 2018 Foodbank Hunger Report indicates that over 4 million Australians have been affected by food insecurity in the past 12 months, with 22% of these children.
"Food insecurity also contributes to the burden on the health care system, with links to depression in adults and behavioural and emotional problems among children.
"We know that recipients of food relief, particularly children, are better able to focus and concentrate, have improved physical health, and are able to better plan for the future.
"That’s why our government strongly supports Foodbank to help ensure that food is distributed through community organisations and breakfasts are provided to children in over 260 schools across Queensland."
Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Member for Bulimba Di Farmer said the Palaszczuk Government had delivered on its election commitment to increase the number of schools offering school breakfasts to their students.
"Foodbank is the largest food rescue organisation in the state and provides healthy breakfasts for school children and cost-of-living assistance for the community," Ms Farmer said.
"We have delivered on our commitment to the school breakfast program, with Foodbank receiving an additional $260,000 per year over the next four years.
"This funding will see the school breakfast program delivered to an additional 70 schools, with over 500,000 breakfasts now delivered every year."
Minister Fentiman said the Palaszczuk Government knows that some Queensland families are doing it tough, and support provided by services such as Foodbank is playing a critical role in helping those in need put food on the table.
"The Federal Government’s announcement that it is cutting funding to Foodbank nationally is disappointing," she said.
"The Palaszczuk Government and not-for-profit organisations will be watching carefully to see if this change to the funding structure for food relief delivers benefits to those in need or makes access to food relief more difficult."
