A number of food banks and food rescue operations receive support from MSD. Organizations and initiatives in receipt of this support are required to report to MSD regularly on a number of measures. The request is that this data is published at national and regional levels. Specifically: How many households are supported? What is the make up of these households? Number of parcels distributed?

Opening this data would provide timely regional information relating to food security. At present, regional food security data is difficult to come by. Having this data would help monitor the impacts of different regional services and initiatives aimed at reducing food insecurity. important to release it.

Knowing more about who is food insecure in our region would help in the design of food security initiatives. Monitoring the need for food assistance over time would help councils, food crisis services and food security initiatives understand their impact.