E&OE TRANSCRIPT
HOST, ANNIE GAFFNEY: Some good news to share in a cost of living crisis for anyone relying on doing their shopping at organisations like Food Bank, OzHarvest or maybe Second Bite to top up your groceries for the week.
The Federal Government has just announced an increase of funding for the program which feeds thousands of families across Australia every week. And Ged Kearney is the Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence. Ged Kearney, thanks so much for having a chat this afternoon.
The Government's move to increase the funding that these services receive by 25 per cent. So, tell me about how much money will now go to support the vital work that these organisations do across Australia.
GED KEARNEY, ASSISTANT MINISTER: Yeah, thanks. Look, we are absolutely thrilled that we will be providing $460 million over five years for across, you know, 300 organisations right across every state and territory. And that means for Queensland, an extra $21 million than they previously had. So, these will go to amazing organisations, who we know provide food relief, emergency relief, financial counselling, financial capability. These are really important services that, you know, to be honest, any one of us could find that we need at any point in time.
I've just come from an amazing conversation with some women who had to flee family domestic violence, and sometimes they leave with nothing but the clothes on their back and the baby on their hip. So, this sort of service, this sort of help, is life-saving really, and in some instances life-changing. A 25 per cent injection, increase in funding for these organisations will really go to help ease the cost of living pressures for, we think, around half a million Australians.
ANNIE GAFFNEY: How is this money going to be spent?
GED KEARNEY: Well, there is an increase in funding to organisations that provide emergency relief. Now, emergency relief is things like aid, food and petrol vouchers, clothing, bedding or toiletries.
You know, certainly Queenslanders know the impact of floods and, you know, in situations like that you need something immediately, you need immediate injection. So, we're very pleased to say that emergency relief funding will be increased and about 188 providers of that service will receive that funding.
ANNIE GAFFNEY: That is Ged Kearney, the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention.