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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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. […]
Consumer trust in energy providers declines
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today said that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable utilities consumers and to rebuild trust between providers and customers. This follows data released today by Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) showing that in the ACT there is deteriorating household satisfaction with gas and electricity services […]
Listening to those with the least: ACTCOSS calls for a new Social Planning Unit in ACT Planning System Review
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today made a submission to the ACT Planning System Review and Reform Project calling for a system that better reflects the needs of vulnerable people. ACTCOSS Deputy CEO, Adam Poulter said: “We welcome the draft planning legislation and the ‘Good Planning Principles’ it contains. While the principles […]
Public housing tenants given 48 hour deadline
Media Release ACT Public Housing tenants, many of whom have been in their homes for decades, have been given just two days to prepare for a formal hearing to argue why they should not be forcibly relocated. The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) said today that public housing tenants threatened with loss of their […]
ACTCOSS welcomes increase to minimum wage recognising vital efforts of frontline workers
Media Release The ACT Council of Social service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the Fair Work Commission’s announcement of a 5.2% increase to national minimum wage and 4.6% increase to modern award minimum wages. This approach recognises the challenges that low income workers are facing with high inflation and rapidly rising cost of living. ACTCOSS Chief Executive […]
Small but welcome price relief for ACT electricity consumers as gas price rise looms
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed modest price relief for ACT electricity consumers announced by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC). Today’s announcement will see a 1.25% reduction in ActewAGL’s regulated retail electricity standing offers for small customers in 2022-23 beginning 1 July 2022. This will translate to an annual […]
Urgent reform needed to tackle social harm from pokies
In a submission to the ACT Government today, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has expressed its support for the ACT government’s proposed changes to reduce gambling harm caused by the ACT’s Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) or pokies. ACTCOSS’s submission was in response to the Justice and Community Safety Directorate’s Discussion paper – ‘Lowering […]
ACTCOSS welcomes ACT Discrimination Law Reform
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed today’s tabling of the ACT Discrimination Amendment Bill 2022 that aims to bring discrimination law in line with the Human Rights Act and strengthen responses to discrimination. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “ACTCOSS welcomes the expansion of the Discrimination Act to cover all areas of […]