The ACT Greens have promised to build a food hub in Fyshwick, so more food can be grown locally, rather than bought from supermarkets.

The $3.5 million hub would give local farmers a base of operations to produce and distribute food, Greens deputy leader Rebecca Vassarotti said, “so that Canberrans can buy it straight from their local shops and markets, not from the supermarket giants”.

“This food hub will empower Canberrans to boycott imports from the big supermarkets and buy more local food, giving them confidence in where their food has come from, who has grown it and why their food costs what it does.

“Growing the food that ends up on our dinner tables locally rather than importing it from across the country is good for farmers, good for the environment, and good for giving Canberrans greater choice to buy and support local businesses.

“The corporatisation of food production in Australia has created a food system that is vulnerable to climate change, unfair to farmers, and which sells food to Canberrans at exorbitant prices while big supermarkets rake in record profits.”

Under their local food policy, the Greens would also

• Invest $3.5 million to establish a food hub which will
• Protect prime agricultural land so farmers have fair, long-term leases 
• Provide $1 million in interest free loans to help local farmers get their food out to local shops, to sell more easily to Canberrans

“For example, farmers might like to get together and purchase an electric van for food deliveries to local shops and restaurants, or as part of a box scheme direct to the front doors of Canberrans,” Ms Vassarotti said.

The Greens would also:

• Revitalise and refurbish the Canberra City Farm in Fyshwick 
• Establish a farm training centre which will run training and jobs programs for people at risk
• Provide $2 million over four years to fund five full-time equivalent primary school garden coordinators, to support school kitchen gardens
• Invest $600,000 over four years to create new large community gardens for the suburbs, using the Community Garden Grants program for smaller projects

“These sorts of programs are the foundation to helping local farms and local farmers thrive,” Ms Vassarotti said. “Our suite of initiatives will be good for farmers, good for the environment, and good for the bank accounts of Canberrans.”

Footpaths

Last week, the Greens committed to improve Canberra’s footpaths, so all Canberrans can get around their neighbourhoods safely and easily.

“The Greens want Canberra to be a city that’s easy to get around,” Jo Clay MLA said. “Whether you’re walking, riding, pushing a pram or in a wheelchair, you should be able to get to your local shops or bus stop safely and conveniently. 

“But, right now, our paths just aren’t kept in a good enough condition, and many are missing connections. When I’m out doorknocking, one of the most common things I’m hearing is that our city needs better paths. We’re in a climate emergency. With over 60 per cent of our emissions coming from transport, we need to do better.

“There is not enough investment in building new paths and not enough dedicated to maintaining the ones we have.”

The Greens would dedicate $20 million every year for new paths and connections, and increase investment in path maintenance to $15 million every year, up from the current $5 to $6.5 million. A rolling maintenance and audit program would sets a timeframe of six months for repairs, rather than the current 18+ month wait time, Ms Clay said. 

An ACT Government path maintenance team would fully insource all maintenance, rather than relying on private contractor capacity for basic repairs. 

So more families could walk or ride to school safely, the Greens would create more raised crossings and employ more crossing supervisors at schools.  

The full list of policies is available on the ACT Greens website.