Advocacy Publications

This report is the first output of a project conducted by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) on behalf of ACT Shelter. The project assesses the costs and benefits of providing social housing in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and builds a business case for addressing housing need in the ACT. This first […]

The 2020 ACT Cost of Living Report tracks changes in the cost of living for low-income households in the Australian Capital Territory over the past 12 months and five years. Over the past five years, housing, health, and energy prices in Canberra have increased significantly. Changes in the cost of living in the ACT have […]

Our submission to the Australian Energy Regulator in response to Evoenergy’s gas network 2021-26 access arrangement proposal focused on the interests of low-income and other at-risk energy consumers in the ACT. Evoenergy’s consumer engagement identified strong community support for a just transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT by 2045 implemented in a […]

ACTCOSS fully supports the passage of the legislation on the prohibition of conversion practices in the ACT. Sexuality and gender identity conversion practices deny affected people their right to live safely and openly in accordance with their gender or sexual identity. Moreover, ACTCOSS understands from our members working with the LGBTQI community, including people who […]

ACTCOSS has made a submission to the federal inquiry into lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-20. Although the ACT did not experience significant property damage during the bushfire season, in this submission ACTCOSS notes the significant mental health toll of the bushfires, as well as the significant impacts of […]

Our submission in response to the Evoenergy Gas Network 2021 Draft Plan focused on the interests of low-income and other at-risk energy consumers in the ACT. Evoenergy’s consumer engagement identified strong community support for a just transition to zero net greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT by 2045 implemented in a way that supports vulnerable […]

ACTCOSS has made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in response to its NDIS Workforce Inquiry. To ensure workforce development policy between the Commonwealth and Territory is complementary and coordinated, we commend the findings in the ACT Community Services Industry Workforce Data and Community Needs Analysis report. We […]

ACTCOSS has made a submission to the Select Committee on Justice and Community Safety to highlight key issues on the community engagement activities of ACT Policing. ACTCOSS supports a model of policing focused on non-punitive approaches and productive engagement with community organisations and people experiencing disadvantage and targeted by over-policing. ACTCOSS highlights issues including: Over-policing […]

ACTCOSS has made a submission to the Select Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic response on 29 June 2020 calling for additional measures to protect vulnerable Canberrans during the COVID-19 pandemic following the Committee’s Interim report 2 tabled 4 June 2020.

The ACT Council of Social Service fully supports the development of an ACT Child Safe Standards scheme based on lessons learned from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.  ACTCOSS believes there are key issues to consider in the development of this scheme, including community sector resourcing, scope of the scheme, and […]