Departure Lounge with Give CEO Bill Mithen

There are 740,000 people employed in the hospitality sector across Australia. It is conservative to assume that 25% of that workforce will become unemployed. That will be an extra 185,000 people without jobs. 

Less than a week into this health and economic crisis, significant hospitality businesses were already closing their doors. This last week, as bad as it has been, is only the beginning 

 

CEO of Give Where You Live Bill Mithen "At best estimates there is already 6% of Victoria’s population that suffer food insecurity. That is approximately 400,000 people that are already terribly vulnerable. That number will grow. The emergency food sector relies on donated excess food, the supply of which is disappearing quickly. In addition that sector it is totally dependent on volunteers who have an average age of 65+. That labour force is also disappearing. The largest local emergency food agency has already seen a reduction in volunteers of 25%".

 

Their proposal is to use existing food supply chains and distribution systems to keep businesses afloat and vulnerable people fed. It enables the use of the existing infrastructure and capacity in the hospitality sector. 

Bill checked into the Departure Lounge to explain what they need and how the government can step up in this time.