Foodbank Australia is warning that the escalating fuel crisis is placing the national food relief network under severe strain, just as new data reveals a sharp rise in Australians struggling to afford food.

Released last week, the latest IPSOS research (March 2026) shows 44% of Australians are finding it harder to put food on the table than the month prior – the highest level recorded since August 2024.

Of that 44%, 23% say they have been unable to afford the cost of living for a long time, a historic high, with rising rents reportedly continuing to drive hardship.

At the same time, soaring fuel costs are impacting every stage of Foodbank’s operations, from transporting food across the country, to families and individuals struggling to access it.

Foodbank Australia CEO Kylea Tink says the situation is deteriorating rapidly.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the incredibly generous support from the transport and logistics sector,” she says.

“Yet we are now seeing an immediate impact on the space available to move emergency food relief to Australians in need.

“These partners desperately want to continue supporting us, but they are being squeezed themselves.”

As a not-for-profit, Foodbank relies heavily on pro bono and low bono transport. Rising fuel costs are, however, forcing some partners to scale back support, while others are introducing fuel levies.

The effects are also being felt on the ground.

“Many Australians can no longer afford the fuel needed to reach food relief centres,” says Foodbank.

“More people are relying on public transport or carpooling, limiting how much food they can take home and forcing difficult decisions about what to leave behind.”

Foodbank is calling on the federal government to urgently release at least a portion of the $20 million in emergency surge funding earmarked for crises like this.

“We don’t have time to wait,” says Ms Tink. “Releasing even a portion of this funding would make an enormous difference.”

Foodbank says this funding would allow it to purchase and transport critical food supplies at scale, ensuring families, pensioners and individuals across Australia can continue to access safe, nutritious food during a period of escalating need.