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Landmark report finds smarter use of Australia's $2.13 billion public food spend could strengthen national resilience and food security, support local farmers and improve the health of millions

Good Food Purchasing Australia

Key Facts:

• Australian-first report shows healthier people, stronger communities, better environmental outcomes and value for taxpayers all within reach through smarter public food procurement policy.
• The report highlights the potential to strengthen food security and reduce exposure to global shocks by building shorter, more resilient local supply chains.
• National review calls for mandatory nutrition and local sourcing standards for all publicly funded food and legislated targets to deliver results.

An Australian-first report released today reveals Australian governments spend more than $2.13 billion in taxpayers’ dollars every year ($6 million a day) feeding people in hospitals, aged care facilities, long day care centres and other public settings. Yet despite its enormous scale, this spending is not delivering on its potential and Australia is missing out on a huge opportunity to use this spending to secure better health outcomes, greater sustainability, shorter supply chains and more prosperous farming communities. 

Transforming the Public Plate released today by the newly formed Good Food Purchasing Australia (GFPA), is the first comprehensive assessment of how food procurement works across publicly funded institutions and programs. Commissioned by philanthropic organisation Macdoch Foundation, the report reveals that existing public food spending can deliver better outcomes if coordinated action is taken. Critically, this includes establishing mandatory nutrition and sustainability standards for all publicly funded food, and legislating targets for healthy, local, sustainable food procurement and investing in local infrastructure.

The release of the report comes as Australia’s food system and supply chains, including food supplied to public institutions such as hospitals and aged care centres, are all at risk of breakdown due to the fuel crisis triggered by the war in Iran.

"Australia is spending billions of dollars every year feeding people in public institutions, but we're not asking nearly enough of that investment. Too many public meals rely on low-quality, imported ingredients. Too much of that taxpayer money is heading overseas to offshore and foreign owned suppliers, and we have no national framework to drive improvement or ensure accountability. 

“A different approach can increase the use of fresh, local produce, redirect spending to Australian farmers and producers, support the people working in public  food service kitchens, and generate real benefits for Australia,” said Leah Galvin, Co-Lead of GFPA and report co-author.

The report reveals a public food procurement system marked by a near-exclusive focus on cost and scale, and calls for better coordination, greater transparency and a more balanced approach that prioritises local procurement. Key findings include:

Public food procurement is dominated by large suppliers and multinationals, with limited pathways for small, medium, local and First Nations producers to participate. 

Low-quality ingredients are accepted and widespread in public settings, contributing to poor diet and long-term health costs. Procurement policies should improve food quality.

There is no national framework of standards, baselines or targets to drive better outcomes from public food spending.

Australia is lagging behind comparable countries: Scotland, the UK, EU and parts of the United States and Canada have already moved to smarter, standards-led procurement.

"Better public food procurement is not about spending more, it's about spending smarter. The evidence is clear, public support is strong, and the solutions exist. Given the threat to our food system caused by the global fuel and fertiliser crisis, now is the moment for leadership,” said Dheepa Jeyapalan, Co-Lead of GFPA and co-author of the report.

The report highlights overwhelming public support for smarter public food purchasing that prioritises health, wellbeing, sustainability and locally produced food. Independent polling^[1] shows 83% of Australians want food served in public institutions to be healthy, 82% want governments to source food from local farmers, and 71% want governments to choose food that has a low environmental impact. The evidence base is equally clear with examples of local leadership and international best practice showing how even modest changes to food procurement criteria and practice can deliver disproportionately large benefits.

Transforming the Public Plate reinforces that public food procurement is one of the most powerful, yet under-utilised policy levers available to governments to improve national wellbeing, and that significant benefits can be secured utilising existing budgets, including:

Improving nutrition and reducing preventable chronic disease by shifting institutional meals toward fresh and minimally processed food.

Supporting Australian businesses and regional farming communities by directing more public food spend to local producers and processors. 

Strengthening supply chain resilience and improving national food security for communities while diversifying supply chains.

Supporting farmers to transition to more regenerative, sustainable practices with reduced financial risk.

Advancing equity and inclusion, including First Nations food sovereignty, community participation and fair livelihoods throughout the supply chain.

Putting downward pressure on the estimated $274 billion in annual hidden health, environmental and economic costs associated with our food system^[2].

Cutting food system emissions, which account for a third of Australia's emissions.

"Public food procurement is not an abstract policy. It impacts millions of people every day and is a choice governments make about what food they buy, from whom, and to what standard. If governments are serious about strengthening Australia's resilience, smarter public food procurement is an immediate, practical lever. It keeps billions of taxpayer dollars circulating in Australian communities, supports local farmers and builds shorter, more resilient local supply chains while costing no more than what we already spend,” said Emma-Kate Rose from GFPA.

“Better outcomes are possible through smarter policy and standards. By supporting our public institutions and those that work in them to source and serve better food we can deliver healthier people, stronger communities and a more resilient food system that is capable of withstanding shocks like the fuel and fertiliser crisis we are experiencing,” said Leah Galvin.

The release of the report comes as the Federal Government continues consultation on Australia's national food security strategy (Feeding Australia), led by the recently-appointed National Food Council, with a final strategy anticipated in early 2027.

“The development of a new national food security strategy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset how this country thinks about our food system. Public food procurement reform must be a central pillar of this strategy. The benefits are too compelling to ignore and it’s clear Australia is falling behind the rest of the world,” said Leah Galvin.

Michelle Gortan, CEO of Macdoch Foundation – the organisation that commissioned the report –  says the timing could not be more critical: “Public procurement has the potential to be a powerful lever for change. At a time when Australia is developing solutions to address our national food security, the opportunities outlined in this report are striking: addressing food procurement can be a structural change, and not a band-aid fix for a fragile food system. We have a real chance to align public spending with improved health and nutrition outcomes for the community, while also creating stronger demand for local produce and new market opportunities for Australian farmers.”

Transforming the Public Plate is available at www.goodfoodpurchasingaustralia.com.au.

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:

Co-authors of the Good Food Purchasing Australia report:

• Leah Galvin (TAS)
• Emma-Kate Rose (QLD)
• Dheepa Jeyapalan (VIC)
• Dr Stephanie Godrich (WA)
  
  

Additional experts and case studies available on request across farming, frontline food service, health and wellbeing.

About us:

About Good Food Purchasing Australia (GFPA)
Good Food Purchasing Australia (GFPA) is a newly formed, action-oriented initiative that connects policy, research and practice to transform how Australian governments source and purchase food. GFPA was established as a direct response to the findings of Transforming the Public Plate, a report commissioned by Macdoch Foundation and produced by a national team of food systems researchers and practitioners. GFPA brings together experts across health, agriculture, environment, procurement and community wellbeing to advocate for a smarter, fairer and more sustainable public food system. It works closely with communities, enterprises, farmers and institutional actors who are driving better food procurement in regions and cities across Australia. For more information visit www.goodfoodpurchasingaustralia.com.au

Contact details:

·       Ben Hornbrook – 0431 180 161 / [email protected]
Chris Williams – 0480 386 879 / [email protected]

·       Full report, images and supporting fact sheets available here: Good Food Purchasing Australia media kit