More than half of all Tasmanians are finding it harder to afford food, according to new data that reveals the deepening toll of cost-of-living pressures across the state.
The latest Foodbank Tasmania Ipsos Monitor found 54% of Tasmanians say it has become harder to afford food in the past month.
Foodbank Tasmania chief executive Cameron Johns said the data points to a rapidly worsening situation.
“Right now, more than half of Tasmanians are telling us it’s getting harder just to afford food and that should concern everyone,” he said.
“Behind this number are families skipping meals, parents going without so their kids can eat, and more people turning to support for the first time.”
In 2025, a third of Tasmanian households said they struggled to put food on the table in the past year.
The Foodbank Hunger Report 2025, found 33% of households – around 81,000 – experienced food insecurity over the previous 12 months.
Johns said food insecurity is not happening on its own but is being driven by rising costs across the board.
“When rent, power bills and everyday expenses keep climbing, food is often the first thing people cut back on,” he said.
Demand for support continues to grow, with more people seeking help who have never needed it before, the organisation said.
“We’re seeing people who are working, who have never reached out for help in their lives, now walking through the doors of our charity partners,” Johns said.
“This is no longer a problem affecting a small group of people – it’s spreading right across the community.”
Johns said Tasmania needs to reach a point where everyone can reliably access affordable, nutritious food every day, not just during a crisis.
Foodbank Tasmania said they will continue to work with charities, schools and community organisations across the state to get food to those who need it most.
Loaves and Fishes Tasmania is also scaling up its food rescue and meal production statewide this winter.
The Devonport-born organisation now distributes 800,000kg of food and more than one million ready-to-eat meals a year, supporting more than 270 community programs.
CEO Andrew Hillier recently told Pulse those doing it tough often turned to processed food which leads to health problems and deeper cycles of disadvantage.
