To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives

We, the undersigned, believe that every child in Australia deserves the right to learn on a full stomach.

At present, not all children in Australia are receiving the same education—not because of lack of effort, but because of hunger. In classrooms across the country, children sit side by side, learning the same curriculum. But while one child may be focused, energised, and ready to learn, another is hungry, distracted, and unable to concentrate—simply because they didn’t have access to a nutritious lunch.

This is not equality. This is not fairness. And this is not the Australia we believe in.

When a child is hungry, their brain cannot function at its best. Research shows that proper nutrition is critical for cognitive development, concentration, and emotional regulation. Without access to food, children are being denied a fair opportunity to thrive—both academically and socially.

School is meant to be a place of opportunity, not a place where the gap between the haves and the have-nots widens further. It’s time we stop expecting hungry children to compete with full ones.

We are calling on the Federal Government to introduce a universal free school lunch program—one that provides every child, regardless of their postcode or family income, with a healthy, nourishing meal each day. This is not charity. This is a basic human right and an investment in Australia’s future.

We urge you to listen to the voices of parents, teachers, and community members across the country who believe in a more compassionate, equal, and just education system.

No child should have to learn on an empty stomach. Let’s give every child the same chance to succeed.