A shocking reality is unfolding in Australia: a significant portion of the population is struggling to put food on the table. The 2025 Foodbank Hunger Report paints a stark picture of food insecurity across the nation. But how did we get here? Let's dive in.
Take Leah Potter, a Darwin resident, for example. After breaking her leg and pausing her work, she found herself meticulously budgeting for groceries. Her injury and pre-existing disability mean she relies on deliveries. However, a recent increase in delivery fees forced her to make a difficult choice: reduce her grocery spending.
"I have this strict budget — when I'm not working — of how much money I can spend on food each week, and that doesn't change," she explained. "So, when they put up their delivery from \$10 to \$18, I just had to choose \$8 less [of] groceries."
As the cost of living continues to climb, even small price hikes can have a significant impact. Leah has resorted to cost-saving measures like cutting meat from her list, but it's still a struggle.
"I buy half-price specials, and what I've noticed is the cost of half-price specials is the cost it used to be at full price," she shared.
But here's where it gets controversial... Leah also runs a soup kitchen, and she's witnessed a shift in the demographics of those seeking help. She notes, "We used to mostly see desperately poor-looking homeless people, now we're getting families, people you wouldn't expect at a homeless kitchen."
Food Insecurity: A Growing Crisis
The 2025 Hunger Report reveals that 20% of Australian households experienced "severe food insecurity" in the year leading up to July 2025. This means they skipped meals or entire days of eating. This is a 1% increase from the previous year. The report also found that almost one in two renting households and one in five households with incomes over \$91,000 had experienced food insecurity. Overall, almost 3.5 million Australians, or one in three households, struggled with food insecurity. High costs are hitting everyday Australians hard.
Jack Barrett, Foodbank Darwin's manager, sees a diverse range of people at the local hub. He notes, "Food insecurity comes in all shapes and forms... Often, it means making different nutritional choices to suit your budget — or skipping meals even, from time to time. In many cases, it's parents that will sacrifice for their children."
He adds that the Darwin hub has been exceptionally busy, particularly over the past year, as families struggle to make ends meet and keep food on the table. "Interestingly, 60% of all households that utilize a Foodbank do have some kind of employment," Mr. Barrett said.
Are Current Measures Enough?
The cost of living was a major topic in the May federal election. The government implemented measures related to energy bill relief and Medicare levies. But this is where it gets interesting: According to the Hunger Report, these measures aren't translating to more food on the table.
Foodbank Australia's chief executive, Kylea Tink, states that hunger in Australia is now "mainstream." She notes, "What the data tells us is, really concerningly, the cost-of-living measures that the federal government tried to provide — it didn't effect what people were putting on the table. It may have helped to offset other costs … [but] the truth of the matter is, it didn't translate to food on the tables."
Foodbank is urging the government to offer tax incentives to encourage farmers, growers, and manufacturers to donate surplus food instead of sending it to landfills. This would increase the amount of available donated food.
"Australians are skipping meals," Ms. Tink emphasizes. "They're not knowing what they're going to put in their children's lunch boxes the next day. We need the Australian government to step up and help us close this gap for Australians right across the board."
And this is the part most people miss...
What do you think? Are the current measures enough to combat food insecurity? Do you think the government should prioritize tax incentives for food donations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
