The Tasmania Project Cost of Living Survey (TTP8) was open between 21 September and 9 October 2022. It asked about how Tasmanians are coping with the increased costs of living and measured food insecurity using a validated survey tool. Food insecurity is when people or households struggle to put enough healthy food on the table every day because of limited money or other resources.

This is the fourth time The Tasmania Project has reported the prevalence and severity of food insecurity experienced by Tasmanians since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2022, global conflict and natural disasters have resulted in supply chain disruptions and rapid inflation. This has increased cost of living pressures including for food.

This report shows that one in two (51%) of Tasmanian households experienced food insecurity over the month prior to survey. This is nearly double the rate recorded in May 2021 (27%). Young adults, unemployed people, temporary residents, single parents with dependents, people living with a disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identifying people were particularly at risk. 

Food insecure households used many coping strategies to put food on the table, such as buying less meat and fresh produce, buying food on credit, and seeking food from their social networks. Very few food insecure households sought emergency food relief from a food bank.