Tuesday, 11 August 2026

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (14:13): (2480) My question is for the Minister for Carers and Volunteers. Albury Wodonga Foodshare is a community organisation based within my electorate in Wodonga, working across the region to address food insecurity and reduce food waste. Foodshare rescues and redistributes surplus food to people and community organisations experiencing food insecurity, while also providing donated pet food to vulnerable people and local animal shelters. Its work is largely powered by volunteers and supports people experiencing homelessness and other forms of hardship. Foodshare has recently been gifted land by Wodonga TAFE for a new facility but needs approximately $5 million to $6 million to build a warehouse that would significantly expand its capacity to rescue and distribute food across the region. With the Victorian government investing in food relief infrastructure, will the minister commit to working with Albury Wodonga Foodshare to secure funding for its proposed new facility and help ensure people experiencing food insecurity in Northern Victoria can continue to access this vital service?