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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ACT Community Sector calls for Just & Inclusive Transition from Gas
Canberrans living on low incomes are once again being hardest hit by an increase in fossil fuel gas prices. This increase underscores the importance of centring equity outcomes and impacts throughout the ACT Government’s commitment to phase out fossil fuel gas by 2045 through electrifying Canberra over the next two decades. Inclusive climate action presents […]
ACT continues to over-incarcerate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at alarming rates
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services and the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) are today noting distressing statistics finding that the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT justice system has worsened. Whilst it is promising to see an overall reduction in the total number of people in prison, […]
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 […]
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children continue to be overrepresented in child protection and youth justice systems
Today’s release of the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services (RoGS) has shown that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children continue to be overrepresented in child protection and youth justice systems. The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) calls on the ACT Government to make the recommendations from the Our Booris, Our Way report [pdf](link […]
Overhaul of energy concessions needed as three million households struggle to pay their energy bills
Reforming electricity concessions to better meet need, a report released today by ACOSS, ACTCOSS and other partner social service organisations, found that while around three million households receive some form of ongoing financial assistance for their energy bills, the poor design and implementation of the assistance means too many people still can’t afford the energy […]
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 […]
Report shows that ACT Government must increase efforts to remove racism and discrimination
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed key recommendations by an ACT Legislative Assembly committee aimed at better protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds from racism and discrimination. The recommendations in the Inquiry into Racial Vilification report [pdf], published today by the ACT […]