Submission to the Department of Agriculture on the development of a National Food Security Strategy (September 2025)

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RE: National Food Security Strategy: discussion paper

I am writing to express concern about the consultation process in place for development of the National Food Security Strategy.

The St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia (‘the Society’) has been helping Australians in need since 1854 and continues to do so today through our 45,000 Members and volunteers and 7,600 staff. Much of this assistance involves providing food relief, either in the form of vouchers or by distributing food directly through our vans, community and crisis centres and various accommodation options.

The provision of food vouchers is part of our emergency relief response which exceeds $50 million per year and for which we receive some Commonwealth funding through the Department of Social Services (under the Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity).

The Society fully supports the development of a National Food Security Strategy and recognises that it is much needed and long overdue.

However, we are concerned that the ‘strategy will be developed with farmers and fishers, industry and the community’ and that this statement fails to acknowledge key stakeholders such as those charities dedicated to providing food to those in need.

While the paper identifies the people likely to experience food insecurity, it does not explicitly put healthy people at the centre of the strategy; nor does it align them with the Key Priority Areas. The strategy should include a statement on the importance of food security for all Australians and a commitment or target.

Given the limited stakeholders identified and the questions posed, it is difficult to see how the strategy will be developed and framed to incorporate broader but relevant social policy. The Society considers this an essential component. Food security should not be considered in isolation. Many other factors affect those likely to experience food insecurity. Those who rely on income support are particularly at risk. Emergency relief funding also impacts organisations’ capacity to respond to this in need. Incentivising the donation of food and food logistics (via tax relief) should also remain on the agenda.

Finally, the Society is concerned about the limited time available to consult on the discussion paper (released in August with a closing date in September); and notes that calls for nominees on the National Food Council have already closed. The Society only found out about this consultation process in a ‘roundabout way’ and is conscious of the fact that other emergency relief providers are largely unaware of it. We recommend that you increase the scope of stakeholders, extend the date for submissions and engage with the Department of Social Services to improve outcomes from this consultation process.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Mr P Toby oConnor
Chief Executive Officer