The Western Australian government is delivering targeted support to its state’s food relief sector as unprecedented fuel price increases place significant strain on food relief services.

To help maintain critical services, the state government will deliver a $3.8 million support package.

This includes $1.5 million in targeted funding for major food relief providers ($500,000 each) – Foodbank, OzHarvest, and SecondBite – to offset escalating freight and logistics costs and ensure continued distribution of essential food supplies across Western Australia.

A further $2.3 million will establish a grants pool, administered by Western Australian Council of Social Service, to support community organisations already delivering food relief services and facing rising operational costs and demand pressures.

According to the state government, WA’s vast geography presents many challenges, including the cost and complexity of servicing regional and remote communities, making targeted support essential to maintaining equitable access to food relief.

WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti says the government is stepping in with targeted support to help Western Australians who need it most.

“Food relief organisations provide an essential service to people doing it tough, so this is about giving them certainty to continue that work in these challenging times,” she says.

“This support has been developed by the Industry Support Working Group, which is working with industry to respond directly to the pressures being felt on the ground.

“Our government will continue to respond in a practical and responsible way to these global pressures, just like we have in the past.”