Foodbank ‘cautiously optimistic’ NT govt will approve ADF airdrop request

The CLP says it’s ‘baffling’ the NT government rejected a request from Foodbank to airdrop food and accused Territory Families of buying out ‘most’ of their supplies.

UPDATE: OPPOSITION Territory Families Minister Joshua Burgoyne says it’s “baffling” the Government rejected a request from Foodbank to airdrop food and essentials into Alice Springs after floods cut road and rail access.

“Foodbank stocks are at critical levels after representatives from Territory Families bought out most of the supplies,” Mr Burgoyne said.

“It’s incredibly disappointing a government agency has gone directly against advice from the Territory Controller not to panic buy, or stockpile.”

Foodbank staff Zoe Stangoulis, Tara Ellis and chief executive Greg Pattinson at the Edwardstown warehouse. Picture Mark Brake

Foodbank chief executive Greg Pattinson said Friday he was “cautiously optimistic” the Territory would approve the airdrop and it would arrive mid next week.

He is expecting up to 50 pallets of food including tinned fruit, breakfast cereal, long life milk. About 20 per cent of items will be fresh fruit and vegetables.

EARLIER: AUSTRALIA’S largest food relief agency has slammed the NT government for “rejecting” a request to deploy ADF personnel to fly supplies from ­Adelaide to Central Australia.

Foodbank Australia says its food supply, which goes out to struggling families across the Northern Territory, has been severely interrupted by ­flooded roads and the charity is in need of assistance.

Foodbank SA and Central Australia chief executive Greg Pattinson said the agency had successfully lobbied the federal government to assist.

“All it required was a request from the Northern Territory government,” Mr Pattinson told ABC Radio on Thursday.

“We didn’t ask for funding ... we’ve already got the food, we just needed it airlifted in to get us out of this short-term problem.

“Yet for some reason the NT government has rejected that request, and we can’t understand why.”

But Health Minister Natasha Fyles told the ABC she was not aware of any such request from Foodbank being rejected.

“Yes, our supply chains have clearly been interrupted,” Ms Fyles said.

“We’re not seeing that usual supply coming through Adelaide but we are getting supplies through Brisbane.

“We’ve been working to ­ensure that we have accurate information on weather forecasting and the road ­condition.”

She said the NT government was working closely with the commonwealth and was ensuring the Territory was ­“really balanced” in its ­approach to tackling the food supply chain issues.

Originally published as Foodbank ‘cautiously optimistic’ NT govt will approve ADF airdrop request