Making fresh and healthy food available to all

All levels of government need to do more to ensure everyone in our community has access to fresh, healthy food, says Tim Baxter, Greens candidate for St Kilda

As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, residents of St Kilda are feeling the impacts.

St Kilda has always been a place of contrast – home to wealthy and also many disadvantaged people. Over the past year, it has seen a rise in the number of people sleeping rough on Fitzroy and Acland streets, and the daily queues for community meal services have grown.

Foodbank’s Homelessness report shows that 3.7 million households in Australia experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months. A staggering 77 per cent of those did so for the first time last year.

Worryingly, charities have reported that households experiencing food insecurity for the first time are reluctant to ask for help, even when food relief is urgently needed. Even so, local food organisations are reporting increases in demand of up to 600%, including families that have never reached out for food assistance before.

It’s a sad fact that although we are so lucky here in St Kilda in so many ways, there are increasing numbers of our neighbours struggling.

So what should Council do?

Currently, Council does provide a mix of grant funding and direct budget provision to organisations that provide food relief within the City of Port Phillip, but there appears to be no strategy or policy direction to make sure the funds are providing the most impact. The funding is also not based on the growing need in our community.

If elected, I will make it a priority to develop a fresh and healthy food strategy, to leverage the amazing work local organisations do, utilise Council funds wisely to have the most impact, and increase the overall funding to meet that growing need.

Last weekend, I hosted a community BBQ in Marina Reserve, open to anyone who wanted to come along for a feed and a chat. I had the chance to meet with locals and talk about the issues affecting them. They tell me that things have not been this tough in some time.

Food and social connection is increasingly important right now, and all levels of government, including Council, need to act.