Christmas boost for Australians in need

The Albanese Labor Government is supporting Australians doing it tough over the holiday period and high-risk weather season with an additional $2 million in food and material aid relief across Australia.

The funding boost will distribute up to 2 million kilograms of additional food and groceries nationally.

It will be delivered by three national food relief providers: Foodbank Australia, SecondBite and OzHarvest, and national Material Aid provider: Good360.

Together, these organisations deliver critical relief to community organisations supporting those in financial crisis across the country.

This additional funding will allow these providers to boost existing services, including sourcing, transporting, and distributing food and material aid to over 180 Commonwealth-funded emergency relief providers across the country.

It means more food parcels and food hampers, including to families in remote and regional areas.

This funding builds on the Albanese Government's 25 per cent boost to food relief and financial wellbeing funding to help Aussies navigate tough times.

More information is available on the Department of Social Services website.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek:

"No one should be faced with a choice between putting food on the table or paying their bills - especially during the festive season.

"We're making sure everyone has access to the essentials through the holidays and high-risk weather season."