A MAJORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WILL:
- Extend our School Lunch pilot to 30 schools, with a $1.4 million investment.
- Deliver over $3 million in emergency food relief and food security funding to help the most vulnerable.
- Establish Tasmania’s first Food Security Strategy.
- Increase funding to Grans Van, Louis Van and Mission Beat.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide further financial support to community organisations who help some of the most vulnerable people in our community who are doing it tough.
Extend our School Lunch pilot to 30 schools, with a $1.4 million investment
Children are more likely to thrive at school if they feel happy, confident and secure. That includes having a healthy and nutritious school lunch.
The Tasmanians Liberals are committed to removing barriers to learning.
In term four last year, the Tasmanian School Canteen Association ran a school lunches pilot in six schools, with some positive results including better concentration, increased school attendance and a reduction in behavioural issues.
A re-elected Liberal Majority Government will expand this school lunch pilot to an additional 30 schools over two years.
We will also provide a grant program to schools to purchase kitchen equipment and funding for the Tasmanian Schools Canteen Association to employ regional food coordinators and support schools to design and set up their own food program.
In our first 100 days, we will conduct an Expression of Interest process for the first 15 schools to take part in the first year, with priority giving to lower socio-economic areas. It is expected school lunches will be provided at these schools from Term One, 2022.
Deliver over $3 million in emergency food relief and food security to help the most vulnerable
Emergency relief services are delivered by community organisations and help people address immediate basic needs in times of crisis.
We will increase funding for emergency food relief to $3 million over 3 years, with an increase in base funding so organisations can increase their capacity to provide food for schools taking part in the School Lunch pilot.
Establish Tasmania’s first Food Security Strategy
It is also critical that all Tasmanians have food security, and we are fortunate that our Island produces some of the best produce in the world.
It is also important that we have a Plan to not only to consider where and how we provide emergency food relief across the State, but also to ensure people in immediate need receive help, and our long-term food security is protected.
We will develop Tasmania’s first Food Security Strategy, working closely with emergency food relief providers and the community sector to strengthen access for all Tasmanians to healthy nutritious food, and to ensure food gets to where it is needed most.
Increase funding to Grans Van, Louis Van and Mission Beat
Supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community who are experiencing a range of issues such as homelessness, social isolation and unemployment, these food vans are a vital community service.
A re-elected Liberal Majority Government will provide an additional $60,000 per year each, to Grans Van, Louis Van and Mission Beat for three years.
This vital community service supports people when they are in crisis and helps them to start to get back on their feet.
Our record in Government
- $4.3 million across 2018-2021 to support Tasmanians in need, including for food security measures and action to address cost of living pressures.
- $1.4 million funding for emergency food relief during COVID-19.
- An additional $1.8 million over three years in increased funding for Foodbank, Loaves & Fishes and Tasmania’s mobile food vans since 2018.
Costings:
The cost of this policy is $4.6 million over three years.