Minute by the Lord Mayor
To Council:
Our community has been severely impacted by
the Coronavirus. While strict physical distancing rules have been essential in
containing the spread of Covid-19, these lifesaving measures have also had a
devastating impact on the lives and livelihoods of people in our community.
The economic output of our Local Government
Area is forecast to contract as much as 12.5 per cent this financial year,
compared with a forecast national decline of 6.5 per cent.
If the Federal Government cuts back its JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs
in September, the Australian Council of Social Service says this could lead to
a devastating increase in unemployment and financial hardship.
Homelessness NSW forecasts around 16,000
people could become homeless across the State unless the stimulus packages are
retained.
We cannot leave people to face severe
economic hardship without support during the current crisis. It is not
acceptable that people could be without access to food as things worsen.
Addison Road Community Centre tell us they
used to see 2,000 people a week seeking access to food, which has increased to
5 to 7,000 during the pandemic.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of OzHarvest Ronni Kahn recently
commented that ordinary people “who thought they would never find themselves in
troubled circumstances, are now reaching out for help – and they need it
urgently.”
I had a roundtable via Zoom recently with
representatives of the charities’ sector as part of the City’s consultation on
Covid-19 recovery planning. They spoke about the future being challenging,
especially if JobKeeper dries up and JobSeeker returns to Newstart
levels, and how this sector will need to help our communities cope with poverty
and unemployment, isolation, mental health issues, substance abuse, and fears
of a second wave of the pandemic.
The City’s strong response to providing
support
Early in the pandemic, the City identified
access to food as a significant issue and an emergency response was required.
On 30 March 2020, Council unanimously agreed to donate $1 million to OzHarvest to help meet the needs of vulnerable groups.
Working with OzHarvest
and 60 community organisations, as well as our Meals on Wheels program, the
City has been delivering over 20,000 meals and 1,500 staples’ bags a week
across the Local Government Area. The City’s community hotline is linking
vulnerable individuals and groups to this network of support providing food
support in the City.
An
operational group of key agencies has been set up to identify at-risk people
across the Local Government Area, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities, social housing tenants, older residents, young people and
people with disabilities.
A partnership with the NSW Parliamentary
Catering Service is providing main meals at cost-price to homeless people in
temporary accommodation. A free supermarket with food and essential items will
open soon in Waterloo and we’ve also established a weekly food collection point
for international students and temporary visa holders, supporting more than 800
people every week.
But beyond those traditional support
services, our staff are also working with generous local businesses who are
providing food relief, linking them with existing resources and distribution
networks.
We also recently provided $867,618 to 22
services to support food relief initiatives. There are many valuable
organisations operating in the City, such the Wayside Chapel who are supporting
people and helping them to get access to healthy fresh food.
City staff have told countless stories of the
generosity of businesses and residents who have donated funding, resources and
their time, like Harris Farm who donate fresh produce. A group of volunteers called Viral Kindness
is using a City of Sydney venue to distribute fruit and vegetables to those in
need through trusted organisations.
We estimate the City’s $1 million in funding
to OzHarvest will run out in around August 2020,
right at the time when Australia will likely be in its first recession in 29
years, and economists and the charity sector are saying “the worst is yet to
come”.
Against this backdrop of emergency need, we
must support those organisations that provide support to our vulnerable
communities.
In the tremendous spirit of co-operation that
we have seen from people and businesses across our City during this time, and
during the bushfires, I call on our communities and businesses to join us in a
fundraising initiative and “pay it forward” to help us care for our most
vulnerable people.
I propose Council set up a fundraising appeal
where the community, businesses and City staff can donate to help their
neighbours who are struggling, directly to OzHarvest
who has the scale to service the emerging need across the city, as well as
through their links to other local agencies.
COUNCILLOR CLOVER MOORE
Lord Mayor
Moved by
the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Scully –
It is resolved that:
(A) Council note that this pandemic and the
looming economic crisis have created a growing need in our community for
support for food services to prevent people from going hungry;
(B)
Council
endorse a fundraising appeal to be set up to encourage people in our community,
businesses and staff to donate to OzHarvest who can
then continue the work they are currently doing to deliver meals in
collaboration with the many other community and charity groups across the Local
Government Area; and
(C)
the
Lord Mayor be requested to:
(i)
sign
the Democracy in Colour and Welcoming Australia Mayoral Declaration;
(ii)
write
to the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, to request
that the NSW Government investigate areas and organisations to financially
support those excluded from the JobSeeker and JobKeeper packages; and
(iii)
write to the
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, to request that the Australian Government
investigate areas and organisations to financially support those excluded from
the JobSeeker and JobKeeper
packages.
The Minute,
as varied by consent, was carried unanimously.
S051491