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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Media release: ACTCOSS welcomes tenancy protections consultation
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the discussion paper on residential tenancy reforms released today by the ACT Government. ACTCOSS has been calling on the ACT Government to strengthen the ACT’s Residential Tenancy Act 1997 to provide increased protections for renters. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “Given the ACT’s acute housing […]
Joint media release: Investment in community housing will pay dividends for ACT
This Homelessness Week, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), ACT Shelter and the Community Housing Industry Association ACT Region (CHIA) have welcomed research highlighting the positive economic and social returns from investing in social housing, including community housing. The research by the Australian Housing and Research Institute (AHURI) also showed major shortfalls in funding […]
Media release: Essential community sector workers locked out of ACT rental market
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today highlighted shocking research showing that high rents in the ACT are pushing essential community sector workers into serious financial stress. The research, published by the Everybody’s Home campaign for Homelessness Week 2021, found that essential community sector workers would need to use between one third and two-thirds […]
Media release: ACTCOSS welcomes expansion of ACT Government’s COVID-19 vaccination program
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the expansion of the ACT’s COVID-19 vaccination program including extended opening hours for the Access and Sensory Clinic and the inclusion of all social and community sector frontline workers as now eligible for vaccination. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “Each week 2000 COVID-19 Pfizer […]
Media release: ACTCOSS gives evidence on ACT drug reform bill
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today gave evidence to the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Select Committee on the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021. The Bill, aimed at decriminalising small amounts of certain drugs for personal use, will help ensure people who use drugs access appropriate healthcare and supports rather than ending […]
Media release: Income support must address costs of disability
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has joined the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) as well as ACT disability representative organisations in calling for an improvement in income support for people with disability in a submission to the federal Inquiry into the purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support Pension (DSP) published […]
Media release: Time to consider free public transport: ACTCOSS
With the ACT Government today flagging major disruptions for city commuters including Commonwealth Avenue lane closures and diversions in place for several years and reports traffic capacity will drop by almost 80%, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has renewed calls for the ACT Government to consider making public transport free in Canberra. According […]
Media release: Consent laws must protect vulnerable people
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has given feedback on Dr Marisa Paterson MLA’s exposure draft of the Crimes (Consent) Amendment Bill 2021. The Bill introduces a new definition of consent based on free and voluntary agreement. In its response, ACTCOSS agreed to a need for consent to be communicated, not assumed. This brings […]