CANBERRA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- One-third of Australian households have experienced food insecurity over the past 12 months, with those that have children among the hardest hit, according to a new report.
The report released by NGO Foodbank Australia on Monday revealed that 33 percent of households experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, up from 32.8 percent in 2025 and 32.5 percent in 2024.
Among households with children, the report said 45 percent experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, with 25 percent classified as being severely food insecure.
It found that 37 percent of middle-income households and 53 percent of low-income households experienced food insecurity.
"Foodbank research shows that hunger is no longer confined to the margins; it is impacting middle Australia. A wage used to be what kept food on the table, but for a growing number of working Australians their pay packet no longer stretches that far," Foodbank Australia CEO Kylea Tink said.
Of households that reported experiencing food insecurity, 85 percent said they were unable to afford balanced meals, and 69 percent said they experienced food insecurity for the first time in the past 12 months.
Over 50 percent of renting households experienced food insecurity compared to 12 percent of households that own their home outright.
"People should not have to choose between putting a roof over their head or putting food on the table. We're hearing of parents going without just to make sure their children can eat. This is unacceptable, and we must do something about it," Tink said.
The report called for federal, state and territory governments to establish a national breakfast program at every school by 2030 and to increase investment in food relief organizations. ■
