The Morrison government has reversed a decision to slash funding for food charity Foodbank by $323,000 six weeks before Christmas, after 24 hours of community outrage.
"Yesterday I promised to review the Foodbank decision," prime minister Scott Morrison wrote on Twitter. "I have listened and decided to increase the Food Relief budget by $1.5 million over the next 4.5 years and have asked the [social services] minister to place more focus on relief in drought affected areas.
"This maintains Foodbank's funding at $750K/yr, with SecondBite and OzHarvest funded as announced last week.
"Important that food relief in drought areas is delivered in a way that does not undercut local businesses. Ministers will work with providers to get the right plan in place."
Foodbank welcomed the funding reversal, thanking the PM on Twitter.
Thank you Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP for restoring our essential funding and for providing vulnerable Australians with certainty. We are proud of the work we do to support people in crisis and welcome this decision.
Foodbank provides an estimated 67 million meals each year to Australians in need via its Key Staples program. It estimates it provides rice, flour, cereals and canned goods to 2,600 charities and 1,750 schools around the country.
Social services minister Paul Fletcher announced on Thursday afternoon that the government planned to split $4.5 million of the $204.5 million emergency support funding package between three organisations — Foodbank, SecondBite and OzHarvest.
The federal funding was previously split between two organisations - Foodbank and SecondBite.
The decision resulted in Foodbank's Key Staples program facing a cut of $323,000, leaving the charity with $430,000 of federal funding per year from January 2019. It's the third cut to the program since 2014; three years ago Foodbank was receiving $1.5 million a year.
Foodbank said it was informed on Friday, six weeks from Christmas. The government faced an intense backlash when the funding cut was made public on Monday.
South Australian Liberal MP Nicolle Flint weighed in on Twitter: "I am really concerned about the reduction in funding to #Foodbank. Having visited the SA headquarters in Edwardstown, I know firsthand the important work they do to assist those who are struggling to make ends meet. I have contacted Scott Morrison about this matter."
The National Farmers Federation said it was "baffled and disappointed" by the pre-Christmas cut to Foodbank, pointing out that 40% of the people assisted by the charity live in the regions.
Musician Jimmy Barnes said cutting the funding for Foodbank before Christmas was "criminal".
Cutting the funding for Foodbank is not OK. Cutting it right before Christmas is criminal. Prime minister, please reconsider this decision. #AusPol https://t.co/wJZWthTSQK
Foodbank chief executive Brianna Casey said on Tuesday the backdown was a "massive relief" after its services had been put at risk.
"As a sector, we are trying to feed more than four million Australians, who at some point are struggling with food insecurity," she told the ABC.
Labor leader Bill Shorten tweeted it was a "great outcome for people power and common sense".