Loaves and Fishes do a tremendous job assisting vulnerable Tasmanians with food relief, and the Tasmanian majority Liberal Government is proud to be one of their strongest supporters.
That’s why we will provide one off funding of $185,000 to ensure the organisation can continue to operate for the next 15 months while a longer term funding solution is explored with the Commonwealth.
This will provide some certainty for Loaves and Fishes and their southern operations including their breakfast club program.
Both myself and my predecessor Roger Jaensch MP have outlined the unique challenges this State faces when it comes to distribution of food relief, and have requested that the Commonwealth food relief programs recognise Tasmania’s needs and the role of Loaves and Fishes Tasmania in delivering key services.
Loaves and Fishes distribute over 1 million kilograms of nutritious produce to over 200 community food programs, as well as producing over 125,000 serves of ready to eat meals annually.
This funding is on top of the $1.136 million over four years (2017-18 – 2020-21) the Tasmanian Government provides to Loaves and Fishes Tasmania to support their operations, including providing emergency food relief to Tasmanians in need.
During the next 12 months the Tasmanian Government will also conduct a mapping of Tasmania’s emergency food relief programs, to better understand how many people are accessing assistance, and to ensure that help is going to where it is needed most.
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