Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Western Victoria Region

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (14:27): (290) My question is for the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers. The cost-of-living crisis is driving more people into food insecurity. In the Geelong region in my electorate demand for food relief has skyrocketed. Services like the Geelong Food Relief Centre source most of their food from local businesses and work efficiently to distribute food to community members, both directly and via local community services. Without these food relief services, thousands of people in Geelong would go hungry. Regrettably, they are now an essential service needed for the foreseeable future, yet it is impossible for them to plan far ahead due to lack of adequate ongoing funding from government. Reliable funding is needed to support essential operational costs like transport, food storage, volunteer support and energy. Will the minister commit to long-term recurrent funding of key food relief suppliers in the Geelong region?