THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY
 
THE HON MATT THISTLETHWAITE MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR TREASURY
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR AN AUSTRALIAN HEAD OF STATE
MEMBER FOR KINGSFORD SMITH
 
SENATOR JENNY MCALLISTER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES
 
LABOR WILL INVEST $6 MILLION FOR FOOD RELIEF FOR AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES GOING HUNGRY
 

A Shorten Labor Government will help vulnerable families who are going hungry by investing an additional $6 million to support food relief organisations.
 
This election will be a choice between a united Shorten Labor Government, which will support vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians, or more of the Liberals’ cuts and cruelty.
 
We need real change, because more of the same isn’t good enough.
 
Under the Liberals, almost half of all food relief charities have reported that demand has increased. 
 
According to surveys undertaken by Foodbank, at some stage last year the equivalent of four million Australians, including 800,000 children, didn’t know where their next meal was coming from.
 
Labor wants all Australians to have the income they need to put food on the table.
 
But in emergencies, people should have somewhere to turn.
 
That’s why Labor will boost funding for organisations that supply food to the charities that are helping people in crisis. 
 
Labor will more than double Federal Government funding for organisations currently providing food relief nationwide.

Over the next four years, this means more than:

• $3.4 million extra for Foodbank.
• $1.6 million extra for Secondbite.
• $1 million for OzHarvest.

Labor’s funding boost will enable these organisations to help more charities deliver food to hungry families.
 
It will allow them to transport more healthy fresh fruit and vegetables donated by Australian farmers, and manufacture more key staples such as breakfast cereal or rice.
 
Food relief has a role to play in making sure families don’t go hungry, but it isn’t the long-term solution.
 
That is why Labor will deliver a fair go for all. We’ll help Australians make ends meet by:

• Reversing cuts to penalty rates, restoring fair pay to 700,000 affected workers.
• Properly funding services that families rely on and addressing cost of living pressures.
• Boosting wages for workers and ensuring the minimum wage is a living wage.
• Reviewing the adequacy of Newstart and related payments and supports.

 
End the chaos. Vote for change. Vote for Labor.
 
WEDNESDAY, 8 MAY 2019
 
MEDIA CONTACT: LABOR CAMPAIGN MEDIA - 02 9165 8299

Authorised by Noah Carroll, ALP, Canberra.