Media release
Palmer gives $5 million to feed hungry Australians
Mineralogy Chairman, Clive Palmer, today presented Foodbank with a donation of $5 million to feed hungry Australians.
“We live in uncertain times and many Australian families are under increasing pressure to provide for their children. Many are caught between the need for shelter, health and food,” Mr Palmer said.
“Increased cost of living and increased interest rates mean that even with both parents working, there is just not enough to save the family home and provide for the family’s needs.
“The result is often that house payments and children get priority and there is simply not enough income to provide three meals a day for all the family.
“Social security does help, but for some, their combined income rules them out of receiving assistance. But these are our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers. And in this country, they, and their families, need food security,” he said.
Mr Palmer said over three million Australian households could not provide enough food for their families.
“We don’t want Australians to go to bed hungry every night,” he said.
“Foodbank is at the front line. It plays an important role in combatting hunger and it needs an additional $200 million.
“My company Mineralogy is today donating $5 million to Foodbank who can use that money to provide millions of meals to hungry Australians.
“I admire Foodbank’s Chairman Duncan Makeig and everything their team is doing throughout Australia to feed the hungry.
“I call upon my fellow rich listers, corporate Australia and the boards of Australia’s leading companies to support Foodbank as they seek the $200 million needed to feed hungry Australians.
“I hope Peter Dutton, if elected Prime Minister, will address the serious cost of living crisis Australia is facing and provide Foodbank with the support they require.”
Mr Palmer said all Australians must agree that everyone should have the right to food.
“Nobody can deny that over the last three years the standard of living has dropped for Australian families.
“Australia needs to do more than it is doing now to feed those who are facing the consequences of increased cost of living.
“We cannot forget to love, appreciate and provide support to those, young and old, who are doing it tough,” Mr Palmer said.
Foodbank Australia Board Chair, Duncan Makeig, emphasised the importance of collective action, with the Foodbank Hunger Report 2024 showing more than 3.4 million Australian households experienced food insecurity in the last year, reducing the quality or variety of their food or sometimes going entire days without eating.
“With the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis still being felt at kitchen tables right across the country, we welcome Mineralogy’s generous donation and thank Mr Palmer for shining a spotlight on the urgency of the challenge we face with demand for food relief outstripping supply,” Mr Makeig said.
“With more and more food needed every day, we need a meaningful, bi-partisan government response and enhanced support from corporate Australia through their own donations to Foodbank as we collectively strive to address what has become a major issue in Australia,” he said.
