Media release
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the report by the Commonwealth and ACT Ombudsman, Michael Manthorpe PSM, into ACT Policing’s engagement with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities. ACTCOSS CEO Dr Emma Campbell said: “This report highlights major procedural gaps in ACT Policing’s engagement with ACT Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed $1.4 million over four years to deliver a new Technology Upgrade Fund for community service organisations. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell, said: “Even before COVID-19 there was a high level of need among Canberrans for the services of our hard-working and dedicated community sector organisations. […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called on the Federal Parliament to increase the JobSeeker payment by at least $25 a day on top of the old Newstart rate of $40 a day. ACTCOSS made this call in a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee inquiry into the Social Services Legislation Amendment […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the appointment of Ms Christine Nixon as chair of the new Oversight Committee to develop a blueprint for change for the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) and Court Transport Unit. However, ACTCOSS said that without an inquiry into systemic racism in Canberra’s prison, the injustice experienced by […]
The ACT Council of Social Service said that today’s Federal Government JobSeeker decision is devastating news for the many Canberrans receiving income support. The announcement – a measly $3.57 a day above the brutal old Newstart rate – will plunge thousands of Canberrans deeper into poverty as they struggle to cover the basics including food, […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today released a wide-ranging submission to the ACT Government’s ongoing Territory Planning Review. The submission calls for the new system to be evidence based, to prioritise people most affected by poor planning and to focus on social and inclusive planning. ACTCOSS Acting CEO Craig Wallace says: “We […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has slammed a decision by the social media giant Facebook which saw some community organisations around the country unable to post and share information with vulnerable clients and service users. According to A/g Chief Executive Officer Craig Wallace: “We are very concerned by reports that we’ve been hearing […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) said that today’s ACT Budget fell short on the investments and vision required to ensure Canberrans facing disadvantage were protected as the ACT emerges from the COVID-19 crisis. The Budget includes pre-announced measures of $15.8 million to extend funding introduced during COVID-19 for mental health services, $2.6 million […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today called on all members of the ACT Legislative Assembly to support today’s motion by Elizabeth Kikkert MLA calling for an independent inquiry into systemic and/or institutional racism at Canberra’s prison, the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell, said: “In the wake of historic allegations […]
Leaders from across the housing and community sector have today written to the Minister for Housing, Yvette Berry MLA, calling for the ACT Government to match its significant investments in infrastructure projects, such as light rail and renewable energy, with similar investments in social housing. The letter, signed by the Community Housing Industry Association ACT […]