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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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 […]
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 […]
Community sector welcomes government commitment to drug law reform
Joint media release by ACTCOSS, CAHMA and ATODA The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation & Advocacy (CAHMA), and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA) today welcomed the ACT Government’s commitment to progressing legislation decriminalising small amounts of illicit drugs. ACTCOSS, CAHMA and ATODA support today’s […]
ACTCOSS and CMCF welcome draft Multicultural Recognition Bill 2022
ACTCOSS and Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF) joint media release. The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) and Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF) have today welcomed the release of the ACT Government’s Draft Multicultural Recognition Bill 2022 (pdf) for consultation. The Bill is set to be presented to the Legislative Assembly later this year and […]
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 […]
ACTCOSS Welcomes Next Steps For Our Kids
ACTCOSS today welcomed the release of the Next Steps for Our Kids Strategy 2022-2030 [pdf], the ACT Government’s strategy to strengthen and support families. The strategy aims to build a restorative, therapeutic and trauma-informed child protection system that is also transparent, accessible and accountable. ACTCOSS also acknowledged the strategy’s prioritising of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait […]