Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Dunkley for her contribution. I agree with one of her comments—that many people get to a stage in life where they've had a rewarding, privileged life and they decide to give back and do charity work, which is very commendable. But I have found through my experience in life that there is another type of person who also does that, and they are the people not far from actually using the services of the charities. They are people who haven't had privileged lives. They are people who have had difficult lives. So it is across the board. Charities hold a special place in all Australians' hearts, and we should recognise that—and we do recognise that as a government. In fact, as I speak, my mother, Stella Conaghan, is at Vinnies in Kempsey doing her duty, because she's had a good life. As a generous people and a generous nation, we need to stand up to assist charities as best we can.

I'd like to acknowledge two very important charities in my electorate. The first is the Savings Place Food Bank in Port Macquarie and Kempsey. The Port Macquarie one was opened on 3 November by local man Dave Davis and Shalom House of Hope chairman Bob Eldridge. Dave worked for many years in the supermarket and food wholesale industry and, over the past decades, he's also contributed to the local communities, using his connections and contacts for charity, for good. By using his own funds, this year he set up a food bank warehouse in Port Macquarie and a central repository for rescue food. Dave gets fresh and frozen food and non-perishable or ambient products from supermarkets at their best-by date, and he says, 'If I won't eat it, I won't provide it. I won't sell it'. He then passes these products on to 10 food hubs throughout the Mid North Coast to provide to people in need.

Dave's rescue food goes to the Food Hub in Kempsey, several churches throughout the region, neighbourhood centres and soup kitchens. One remarkable fact: in the Macleay Valley alone last year, he provided over 100,000 breakfasts and lunches to schoolkids who were unable to provide their own food. I take my hat off to Dave and thank him for his extremely hard work. I hope in the future that the federal government, through advocacy from me, will be able to assist the food hub in the future. Dave estimates that since last November his operations have provided over half a million dollars worth of food or produce to community members in need.

The second great charity in my electorate is Loaves and Fishes. Loaves and Fishes has partnered with more than 20 businesses to provide locals experiencing hardship with rescue food and other staples. Loaves and Fishes was founded 50 years ago on the principle of giving people a hand up, not a handout. Loaves & Fishes Foodstore supports about 4,700 families throughout the Coffs coast by providing them with groceries at around one-third the cost of supermarket prices. It also provides emergency food parcels for residents and individuals on the Coffs coast who are in crisis. In addition to the food store, Loaves and Fishes provides an op shop, a furniture and white goods outlet, a community shed, a fishing club, a soup kitchen, and emergency accommodation.

Turning to the point of the member for Fenner's motion: our government is working to harmonise legislation around charities and to reduce red tape. Reducing red tape and provide providing a seamless, fluid administrative process is the secret. It provides certainty for those charities. It gives them an understanding of what they can and can't do, and, in turn, that provides a better process for those in need in our communities. Our government will continue to work with those charities and continue to provide funding for this important agenda.

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