'Lucky country has become the hungry country': Foodbank Australia

A report by Foodbank Australia has revealed that nearly seven in ten food insecure households in Australia experienced food insecurity for the first time within the past year. The organization's chief executive, Kylea Tink, emphasized the need for political and social will to address the hunger crisis. Travis Gilbert, a Canberran who became unemployed for the first time in 22 years, revealed that he had to use his superannuation to afford groceries.

He expressed frustration at the fact that even people with full-time incomes on the ACT are seeking help from food banks. Rhonda Owen, a volunteer with HelpingACT, noted that food insecurity can affect anyone, often resulting from just one paycheque away from needing assistance. The report highlighted that 3.6 million households in Australia were going hungry in the past year, with one in three households experiencing food insecurity within the last 12 months.

Regional households were found to be hit harder than urban ones, with almost one in four experiencing severe food insecurity. The report also noted that young adults aged 18 to 34 were the most likely age group affected by food insecurity. Foodbank Australia welcomed the federal government's $700,000 surge funding but stressed the need for a whole-of-system approach and political and social will to tackle the hunger crisis.