Hobart City Mission is sounding the alarm as critical Federal Government funding for emergency relief is cut in half from today, 1 October 2025, despite demand for support reaching record levels. The Department of Social Services slashed the Mission’s Financial Wellbeing and Emergency Relief grant by 50%, a decision made under the portfolio of The Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP.
Hobart City Mission CEO Harvey Lennon stated that the funding cut “comes at the worst possible time,” noting that demand for emergency relief has “doubled in just two years.”
Media release – Hobart City Mission, 1 October 2025
Hobart City Mission Calls for Urgent Action as Federal Funding for Emergency Relief has Halved Whilst Demand has Doubled!
Hobart City Mission is sounding the alarm as critical Federal Government funding for emergency relief is cut in half from today, despite demand for support reaching record levels.
The Department of Social Services has slashed Hobart City Mission’s Financial Wellbeing and Emergency Relief grant by 50%, a decision made under the portfolio of The Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP.
“This funding cut comes at the worst possible time – demand for emergency relief has doubled in just two years.
“In August alone, Hobart City Mission distributed 1,027 food bags, compared to around 500–600 per month only two years ago,” said Harvey Lennon, Hobart City Mission CEO.
“Today we begin operating with only half the Federal funding we had yesterday, while the need in our community is the greatest it has ever been,” said Lennon.
“Without urgent action, we will be forced to turn away 200–300 people each month, including pensioners, single parents, working people on low incomes and those experiencing homelessness.”
Hobart City Mission has already taken tough measures to remain sustainable, including reducing appointments and temporarily closing its Moonah office on Mondays. But the gap cannot be bridged without government support.
“We are calling on Minister Plibersek to immediately reinstate this funding,” Lennon said.
“The cost-of-living crisis is not over. People in Southern Tasmania still need help to put food on the table.”
Hobart City Mission is also calling on the community to donate non-perishable food items – such as canned tuna, baked beans, pasta, pasta sauce and soup – to help meet urgent demand.
Donations can be dropped off at:
50 Barrack Street Office, Hobart (CBD) or 11 Main Road, Moonah
Media statement – Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent Federal Member for Clark, 1 October 2025
GOVERNMENT CUT RISKS MAKING HOBART CITY MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
“Hobart City Mission plays a critical role in supporting people who find themselves struggling to get by and for the Government to reduce their funding like this is deeply disappointing,” Andrew Wilkie said.
“The cost of living and other challenges mean the number of people who need support is only growing and this cut means Hobart City Mission faces a series of dreadful choices about reducing staff and operating hours, and cutting back on the number of people they provide with critical support.
“I have spoken personally with Minister Plibersek about this matter several times and note the funding was topped up a little. But I use this opportunity to urge the Minister to again review this decision and to restore the funding in full.”
Tasmanian Times (TT) is a community-based news and current affairs service covering the island state of Tasmania. It exists to provide a diverse presentation of Tasmanian issues. TT creates and supports independent media content utilising the best of modern technologies and tried-and-true practices of public-interest journalism.
Support us in expanding our coverage and developing new content by and for Tasmanians.
New initiatives on the way include … what our contributors and readers suggest! Please get in touch with your suggestions.
