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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Joint COSS letter to National Cabinet on Rental Crisis
Ahead of the National Cabinet meeting (16 August), ACTCOSS and the broader Councils of Social Service (COSS) Network* has called on state, territory and federal governments to step-up and take significant action to address the rental crisis. In a letter to the Prime Minister and Australia’s premiers and chief ministers, the COSS network – representing thousands of social […]
ACTCOSS welcomes investments to address ACT housing crisis
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the ACT Government’s announcement of $345m in additional funding for housing measures in the 2023-24 ACT Budget. The investment will be spread across public housing growth and renewal, land release and the Affordable Housing Project Fund. ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles said: “We congratulate the […]
Urgent action needed to address ACT’s worsening housing and homelessness crisis
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today joined with ACT Shelter in calling on the ACT and Federal Governments to take urgent action to address the worsening housing crisis in the Territory, following today’s release of a national report showing that Canberra remains the most expensive Australian city for people on low incomes […]
ACT least affordable jurisdiction for renters on low incomes
A report released today has shown that the ACT’s rental affordability is the worst in the country for people on low incomes – and continues to worsen. The Rental Affordability Index report issued jointly by National Shelter, SGS Economics & Planning, Beyond Bank and the Brotherhood of St Laurence highlighted that low-income households in […]
Full range of human rights need to be enacted by ACT Government
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the ACT Government’s commitment to introduce a right to a healthy environment in the Human Rights Act 2004 but has called on the ACT Government to enact all Economic, Social and Cultural Rights including a right to housing. Minister for Human Rights, Tara Cheyne MLA […]
ACT Planning Bill must prioritise Canberra’s most vulnerable
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) said today that the ACT Government must make stronger commitments to social and affordable housing, consultation with marginalised communities and delivering community infrastructure and amenities in its planning reform. In its submission to the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Inquiry into the Planning Bill 2022, ACTCOSS called on the ACT […]
ACTCOSS Welcomes Inclusion of Affordable Rentals in Build-to-Rent Scheme
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the ACT Government’s announcement requiring the inclusion of affordable rental properties in existing or planned Build-to-Rent proposals and developments in the ACT. The ACT’s housing crisis has left a serious lack of affordable options for low-income Canberran households simultaneously struggling with cost of living stresses. […]
ACTCOSS welcomes new minimum energy efficiency standards for rentals
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the announcement of a new minimum energy standard for rental properties in the ACT. The new regulation will require landlords to have a minimum standard of ceiling insulation from April 2023 with a phase in period to November 2026. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell: “Over […]