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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ACTCOSS supports the Right to a Healthy Environment for all ACT citizens
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has supported a proposal to introduce the Right to a Healthy Environment under the ACT’s suite of human rights protections, but has called on the ACT Government to enact all Economic, Social and Cultural Rights including a Right to Housing. In its submission to the ACT Government, ACTCOSS […]
Free and ongoing access to period products for everyone who menstruates in the ACT
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has provided a submission to the Inquiry into the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill 2022. This welcome Bill addresses period poverty and the stigma associated with periods in the ACT. ACTCOSS is supportive of the introduction of this Bill as a means to address period poverty and […]
ACTCOSS calls for stronger rights and protections for social housing tenants
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the proposal to end “no cause” evictions but has said that additional protections for private tenants must not come at the expense of social housing tenants. The ACT Government’s Draft Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2022 will remove “no cause” evictions for all tenants in the […]
Robodebt Royal Commission must deliver answers, accountability and protections
The ACT Council Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the Robodebt Royal Commission as an important step to getting answers, accountability and better social security protections following this appalling abuse of power. Dr Emma Campbell, ACTCOSS CEO said: “ACTCOSS’s peak body, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) led the campaign to end Robodebt and […]
ACTCOSS welcomes funding for alcohol and other drug treatment services
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the announcement by the ACT Government that the 2022-23 Budget will include more than $13 million in additional supports for alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services in the Territory. Significant investments will go toward the continued development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential […]
Inquiry into Community Corrections Report ‘Missed Opportunity’
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the release of the ACT Legislative Assembly Inquiry into Community Corrections report but called it a ‘missed opportunity’ to bring meaningful change to the ACT’s justice system. In June 2021, the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety initiated an inquiry into the […]
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. […]
Community welcomes Committee support for enabling accessible human rights complaints
Joint media release from ACTCOSS, Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC), Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) and Canberra Community Law (CCL). A number of community organisations, including the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC), Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) and Canberra Community Law (CCL) have today welcomed recommendations […]