Thursday, 18 June 2026

 Luba GRIGOROVITCH (Kororoit – Minister for Youth, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (14:26): When families are under pressure, governments have a choice. You can look away, you can cut or you can step in and you can help. We know what Labor will do. Labor will always step in and help because no-one should go hungry in this state and no family should be left on their own when times are tough. That is why applications are now open for $8.5 million in food relief funding. Local organisations can apply for grants of up to $100,000 to help keep food on the table. Since 2020 our government has invested more than $85 million in food relief. That has funded around 250 projects, backing organisations like OzHarvest and SecondBite. Last week I brought the food relief sector together to get food to families faster. In Coburg I joined my good friend the member for Pascoe Vale at Our Daily Bread at the Greek Orthodox Parish of the Presentation of Our Lord. I thank Father Leo Ioannou, Sophie and the volunteers who work tirelessly feeding those in need, because that is what backing families looks like.

While Labor invests, we know what the Liberals will do. They will cut. Currently they are hunting for $40 billion in cuts. But you cannot cut $40 billion without cutting hospitals, without cutting schools and without cutting what people need. They have done it before. When the Liberals last went looking for savings, what did they cut? They cut Fresh Fruit Friday, a program that helped children learn with something healthy in their stomachs. That is what happens when the Liberals go looking for cuts. They take it from those who need it most. Now they want to do it again, all while they chase One Nation and fight with each other. Well, they can keep fighting with each other. We will keep looking after working families.