Fast Food Fight: How Communities Are Fighting Back

Global fast food chains are taking over our high streets.

Everywhere you look, there’s another Maccas, KFC and Hungry Jacks popping up. 

Research pre-COVID found that Australians aged 18-34 were spending nearly 40 percent of their weekly food budget on fast food. Since the 1971 opening of the first McDonald’s in Sydney’s Yagoona, nearly 27,000 fast food outlets had opened nationally by the end of 2025, dominated by three multinational brands: KFC, Subway and McDonald’s. 

Is this extraordinary expansion a reflection of the popularity and desire for more fast food? Or is it an intentional strategy of these multinational corporations? Unsurprisingly, it’s the latter. 

As part of McDonalds ‘Accelerating the Arches’ marketing strategy, “doubling down” on restaurant development has been added as a new feature. They aim to have 50,000 restaurants by 2027 worldwide. Already, Maccas has placed themselves within less than five kilometres from 75 percent of their consumer market globally. 

Supporting communities and local governments to say no 

The rapid expansion of this industry leads to unhealthy food environments, which, when combined with huge advertising, marketing and sports sponsorships, are major drivers of the rapid rise in chronic, dietary-related ill-health and disease.  

It's time to say no to the further proliferation of this harmful industry. That's what growing numbers of communities and local governments are doing across the country.  

In this webinar, you'll hear from community members leading these campaigns as well as the organisations supporting them:  

• Andy Miller - Objector to the McDonald's application at 323 High St Northcote and convenor of the Not Lovin’ It Facebook group 

• Vicki Anderson - Representative of MAC OFF - Protect Castlemaine

• Sharonna Mossenson - Food Policy Senior Coordinator at Cancer Council WA, which recently launched its UnJunk campaign 

The webinar will be facilitated by Sustain's Executive Director Dr Nick Rose, as part of Sustain's Vote for Food campaign leading into the November 2026 Victorian election.