Media release
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has said that the 2022 Healthy Prison Review has highlighted serious issues with Canberra’s prison, including inadequate access to education and activities, major gaps in the provision of basic healthcare, inadequate infrastructure and inappropriate services for women The report, tabled today in the ACT Legislative Assembly by […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) said today that the ACT Government must make stronger commitments to social and affordable housing, consultation with marginalised communities and delivering community infrastructure and amenities in its planning reform. In its submission to the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Inquiry into the Planning Bill 2022, ACTCOSS called on the ACT […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the ACT Government’s announcement requiring the inclusion of affordable rental properties in existing or planned Build-to-Rent proposals and developments in the ACT. The ACT’s housing crisis has left a serious lack of affordable options for low-income Canberran households simultaneously struggling with cost of living stresses. […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the announcement of a new minimum energy standard for rental properties in the ACT. The new regulation will require landlords to have a minimum standard of ceiling insulation from April 2023 with a phase in period to November 2026. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell: “Over […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today cautiously welcomed a commitment to increase to the age of criminal responsibility to 12, and then to 14 within two years, through a staged response to allow for the implementation of service reforms. However, ACTCOSS expressed significant concern at the Government’s decision to include carve outs […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today paid tribute to ACTCOSS’s CEO Dr Emma Campbell following her decision to step down from the role at the end of January 2023. ACTCOSS Chair Jeremy Halcrow said: “Emma joined ACTCOSS in January 2020 and under her leadership ACTCOSS has strengthened the organisation’s role as the […]