Tuesday, 2 December 2025

 Jacinta ERMACORA (Western Victoria) (14:06): I met with Amanda Hennessy, the executive officer of Western District Food Share, last week, and I was there to share in the news that food share will be receiving a new refrigerator van thanks to a grant of just over $82,000 from the Community Food Relief Fund. This will enable them to deliver fresh and frozen food across the south-west, including Glenelg and Southern Grampians shires. It will mean greater access to healthier and more nutritious food for people in need. This funding is an example of the Allan Labor government’s understanding of the unique experiences of outer regional Victoria. Amanda described how much of their supplies are shipped first to Geelong and then to Warrnambool and then they need to be distributed up to 150 kilometres away or more to communities like Portland, Heywood and Nelson. This will help the food share to fulfil its goal of providing equitable access to nutritional food. Thank you to Amanda, the staff and the amazing team of volunteers who work so hard every day at the food share in Warrnambool for their warm welcome when I visited and for the great work that they do.