SENATOR CAROL BROWN

SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR

FAMILIES AND PAYMENTS
LABOR SENATOR FOR TASMANIA

REBECCA WHITE MP
SHADOW TASMANIAN MINISTER FOR HEALTH
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES
LABOR MEMBER FOR LYONS


MEDIA RELEASE

SUPPORT FOR FOODBANK VITAL FOR TASMANIANS

The State and Federal Governments must provide adequate funding to Foodbank to
ensure it can continue to provide welfare agencies and schools with food to
distribute to Tasmanians in need.

The Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments, Senator Carol
Brown, and the Shadow Tasmanian Minister for Human Services, Rebecca White,
said today it was a disgrace that Foodbank had received no guarantee that funding
would be provided in the August Budget to keep operating.

Senator Brown said the impact of funding cuts would be compounded by Federal
Budget cuts of $240 million from the discretionary grants programmes which include
funding for emergency and food relief.

The demand on Foodbank for food and household products is growing every day.

Welfare agencies are worried about Foodbanks future and how they will be provide
food for people who desperately need it, Senator Brown said.

This is not about politics it is as Foodbank says about feeding Tasmanians this
winter.

The demand for food is increasing from people who call Foodbank and contact
welfare agencies who have no food.

We know it will get much worse because of Tony Abbotts brutal budget cuts which
will hit pensioners and young people particularly hard.

Shadow Minister for Human Services, Rebecca White, said it was a travesty for the
State Government to cut funding to community and emergency food organisations.

Foodbank delivered more than a million kilos of food in the last 12 months to 220
welfare organisations across Tasmania and provides a vital service to welfare
agencies and schools who distribute food hampers, Ms White said.

It is shameful that funding is being cut at a time when demand for their services is
increasing.

Foodbank, Second Bite and Produce to the People all provide nutritious food to
people who would otherwise be left hungry.

The Liberal Government has offered a small amount of funding provided these
groups provide a business plan showing they can be self-sustainable.

This is an insult and affront to these organisations.




MEDIA CONTACT:
Senator Brown - Sue Bailey 0417 550 279
Rebecca White Luke Edmunds 0499 990 232


Friday 27 June 2014