Prime Minister gives food relief budget $1.5-million funding boost
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has intervened to boost the government’s food relief budget and restore funding to the charity, Foodbank.
Foodbank was facing the prospect of losing almost half its budget after the Social Services Minister announced a redistribution.
The decision sparked outrage from the charity, Labor and some Liberal MP’s prompting Scott Morrison to intervene and keep Foodbank’s funding at $750,000.
In an announcement on Twitter, the Prime Minister says he’s listened to concerns and will increase the relief budget by $1.5 million over four and a half years.
[1/3] Yesterday I promised to review the Foodbank decision. I have listened and decided to increase the Food Relief budget by $1.5 million over the next 4.5 years and have asked the Minister to place more focus on relief in drought affected areas.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) November 12, 2018
[2/3] This maintains Foodbank’s funding at $750K/yr, with Second Bite and OzHarvest funded as announced last week.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) November 12, 2018
[3/3] Important that food relief in drought areas is delivered in a way that does not undercut local businesses. Minister will work with providers to get the right plan in place.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) November 12, 2018
Foodbanks’s New South Wales and ACT Chief Executive Gerry Anderson tells Chris Smith it’s a start.
“The reality is, we asked the federal government to provide $8 million.
“Because just in New South Wales alone… we provided in the month of September and October, 5000 food and 5000 personal care hampers for the farming communities”.
Click PLAY below to hear the full interview