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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Social housing and community sector funding should be at the forefront of the next governing agreement
In a city full of politics, one of the ACT’s great political mysteries is why the ACT Government’s practical support for people experiencing poverty has gone backwards over more than a decade. How could this happen with such a progressive electorate, with governments that have been elected on their progressive promises over the last quarter […]
Now, post-election, it’s time for the most consequential bit of our democratic process
After the final seat in Brindabella went to the Greens’ Laura Nutall, negotiations around the formation of government began in earnest. It is vital to our democracy that this occurs transparently. In the ACT, it is historically rare for any one party to govern on its own. Negotiations are a feature of the ACT system, […]
ACT Government investment in community sector plummets 30% as a proportion of all government expenditure – it’s time to ACT for Community
Today, ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS) CEO, Dr Devin Bowles, has launched the ACTCOSS ‘Community Sector Investment Over Time’ research in front of the ACT Legislative Assembly. Despite the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis, the ACT Government investment in the community sector as a proportion of all government expenditure decreased by 30% between 2009-10 […]
Here’s what real courage would look like from an ACT candidate
It’s difficult to think of an issue in the ACT that is more widespread and more keenly felt than poverty, so it is appropriate that the election falls on Anti-Poverty Week. The experience of poverty is responsible for much of Canberra’s suffering, and it reduces the human potential and contribution people can make to our community. Today, parents […]
Everyone is getting more ambitious when it comes to housing. Except one party
In the midst of a housing crisis, a focus of policy debate has been “location, location, location.” It is important that this does not distract from the main objective of ensuring everyone has safe, affordable housing, and that means rapidly expanding the stock of social housing. It is a numbers game. This is especially important […]
2024 ACT Election Candidate Forum
On Thursday, September 12th, ACTCOSS hosted over 50 Community Sector Organisation members and 10 Candidates at our 2024 ACT Election Candidate Forum. Facilitated by ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Devin Bowles, the event kicked off with Candidate pitches. Each Candidate had 3-minutes to share their perspectives on Housing and Homelessness, Cost of Living, a Thriving and Sustainable […]
Breaking point: financial stress of ongoing cost-of-living crisis hitting low-income Canberrans hardest
ACTCOSS’s latest ACT Cost of Living Report reveals persistently high inflation and high interest rates are exacting a devastating toll on low-income households and adding to demand for community sector services across the ACT. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Devin Bowles said: “The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has extended the reach of financial stress to more and more […]
Joint Media Release: Once-in-a-generation leadership needed to tackle the ACT’s housing & homelessness problem
ACTCOSS and ACT Shelter have today launched their shared housing and homelessness election platform, which calls on all political parties and candidates in the upcoming ACT Election to commit to transformational investment in social housing. Amidst a housing crisis fuelling cost-of-living pressures, ACTCOSS and ACT Shelter warned of a deepening housing divide and growing homelessness […]