News and Media
Here you’ll find news, announcements, and media releases from ACTCOSS and the Gulanga Program, along with major community sector news.
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Gulanga Media Release: ACT Budget – more community control needed
The ACT Council of Social Service’s Gulanga Program said that today’s ACT Budget responded to some of the calls from the ACT’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but much more is needed to be done to improve outcomes for First Nations peoples in the ACT. The 2022-23 ACT Budget, delivered by the Chief […]
ACTCOSS calls for significant investment in community services, cost of living, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) is calling for significant investment in community services, cost of living relief and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations ahead of the release of the 2022-23 ACT Budget tomorrow. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “Cost of living pressures are continuing to increase in the ACT and more people are […]
‘Desperately needed’ housing investment welcomed
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed a $30 million investment to deliver promised public housing and $57.3 million to undertake public housing repairs. These investments are part of a package announced by the ACT Government in the lead up to the ACT budget on 2 August, comprising: $30 million investment to […]
Housing ACT must be held to the same standard as private landlords
ACTCOSS today expressed its concern over proposed legislation that will weaken protections against eviction for Housing ACT tenants. The ACT Attorney General, Shane Rattenbury MLA, today released the draft Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 aimed at increasing protections for tenants living in privately owned rental properties by removing the ‘without cause’ tenancy termination provision. […]
Commitment to continue funding for key community services welcomed
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed today’s announcement to continue funding for key community sector services, but calls on the ACT Government to deliver major investments in supports for vulnerable Canberrans in the forthcoming ACT Budget. Today’s announcement of support for the ACT community sector includes: Funding to continue specialist […]
ACTCOSS welcomes ACT Government’s 2022/23 increase in funding for the ACT’s community sector
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the ACT Government’s announcement of a 4.43% increase in funding for the ACT’s community sector for the year 2022/23. The increase is slightly behind the increased wage costs of 4.6% and the additional 0.5% superannuation contribution that the community sector must cover next financial […]
Census population data highlights the need for major investment in the ACT community sector
Media Release The ACT Council of Social service (ACTCOSS) has called for major investment from the ACT Government and Federal Government in community services and infrastructure in light of a 20,000 person undercount of the ACT’s population. The new population figure, revealed in the release of the 2021 census results, has significant implications for the […]
ACT Government must maintain adequate utilities assistance for low-income households as costs rise
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called on the ACT Government to permanently increase the Utilities Concession in 2022-23 as Canberrans face a higher combined utilities bill alongside further increases in the cost of housing, food and fuel. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “In recent weeks we have heard much […]