Australian charities demand restoration of Ask Izzy funding

Nearly 200 charities and community organisations, including Mission Australia, Foodbank, OzHarvest, and St Vincent de Paul, are campaigning for the Albanese government to restore funding for Ask Izzy. The service, an online directory operated by the non-profit Infoxchange, connects individuals in crisis with essential food, housing, and emergency assistance.

Funding for the service ended on June 30, following a decision to cut approximately $2 million in annual support. The service recorded a record 9.1 million searches in the last financial year, a 7 per cent increase, with high demand for food, financial assistance, housing, and mental health support. Campaigners argue that the requested $6 million over three years is modest given the service provides an estimated $83.1 million in annual public value.

The movement has gained cross-party support in Canberra, with the Coalition, Greens, One Nation, and crossbench MPs backing calls for the funding to be reinstated. While more than 2,000 Australians have contacted politicians regarding the cuts, federal ministers have not provided a detailed public explanation for the decision, citing only government processes.