Media release
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today expressed concern that the ACT Government’s action on climate change is leaving Canberra’s most vulnerable households behind. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “The ACT Government’s announcement today of investments in climate action as part of next week’s 2021-22 ACT Budget fails to match its commitment to […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed today’s announcement by the ACT Government of $100 million to expand and improve social housing provision in the ACT. The announcement responds to ongoing calls by ACTCOSS, ACT Shelter and other community sector organisations for improved public housing maintenance, the acceleration of the Growing and Renewing […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Housing Affordability and Supply in Australia calling for urgent action by the Federal Government, alongside state and territory governments, to address the housing crisis facing all Australian jurisdictions including the ACT. In its submission, ACTCOSS called for measures including: […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed substantial funding for Canberrans needing mental health, alcohol and other drug services and primary health care. The ACT packages announced by ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith and Minister for Mental Health, Emma Davidson includes $14 million from the ACT Government, delivered […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today expressed concern about the finding by the ACT Inspector of Correctional Services that a forced strip search of an Aboriginal female detainee did not comply with ACT human rights legislation. The finding in the Report of a review of a critical incident by the ACT Inspector of […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) said today that a $26 million funding package for the community sector announced by the ACT Government represented a major commitment to address needs highlighted by ACTCOSS and its members during the COVID-19 health and economic crisis. The funding announcement includes: $8.6m for specialist homelessness programs $4m to […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed a motion by Johnathan Davis MLA calling on the ACT Government to support the ACT’s community sector organisations. The motion, to be tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly tomorrow, will acknowledge the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis on the most vulnerable […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed measures to protect and support rental households impacted by COVID-19, including a 12-week moratorium on evictions for rental arrears. However, ACTCOSS is disappointed that broader protections, including a blanket eviction moratorium, have not been provided to prevent tenants experiencing vulnerable circumstances from being pushed into […]
On Equal Pay Day 2021, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called on all governments to do more to reduce the ongoing gender pay gap and the resulting financial insecurity experienced by women in Canberra. Research by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) calculated that the current ACT gender pay gap was nearly […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today has demanded an improvement to the response by the ACT Government and Canberra Health Services to the COVID-19 outbreak at Condamine Court public housing complex. ACTCOSS CEO Dr Emma Campbell said: “ACTCOSS has been speaking with community sector organisations working on the ground at Condamine Court. We […]