Advocacy Publications

ACTCOSS has provided feedback to the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Natural Gas Transition) Amendment Bill 2022. Climate change disproportionately impacts people who face disadvantage including people on low incomes, people with disability, people with chronic health issues and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Territory’s transition away from a reliance on natural […]

ACTCOSS made a submission to the Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City services inquiry into EV Adoption in the ACT. Our submission welcomed the ACT Government’s decision to phase out internal combustion engines from 2035, however called for policy addressing the impacts of climate change to not be used to perpetuate inequality. The ACT […]

ACTCOSS made a submission to the Inquiry into the Legislative, Workplace Governance and Clinical Frameworks of the Dhulwa Secure Mental Health Facility. We called for better consultation with consumers and carers, accessible policies and procedures, and the co-design of strategies and services with people with lived experience of services.

ACTCOSS made a submission to the Inquiry into Abortion and Reproductive Choice in the ACT discussing accessibility, affordability, and safety of reproductive healthcare. Our submission focused on the need for culturally safe and inclusive practices, as well as interventions to improve the availability and accessibility of abortions and reproductive options in the Territory.

The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), along with Financial Rights Legal Centre (FRLC), Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (Good Shepherd), the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) and Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) have made a joint submission in response to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) […]

ACTCOSS made a submission to the Committee on Economy and Gender and Economic Equality’s inquiry into housing and rental affordability. Alongside ACT Shelter we recommended that the ACT Government undertake research on vacancy rates, and focus on building significant number of public social housing dwellings and community housing provider-delivered social and affordable rental dwellings.

This bulletin provides a summary of ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) responses to the 2022-23 ACT Budget announced on 2 August 2022.  The bulletin summarises key announcements for community service organisations and Canberrans on low incomes and facing disadvantage. It also includes a list of measures about which ACTCOSS will be requesting more information. […]

ACTCOSS has made a submission to the ACT Community Services Directorate, ACT Office for Disability on the development of the ten-year ACT Disability Strategy (ACTDS). ACTCOSS has identified ten key focus areas to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in the ACT and make Canberra an accessible and inclusive city. These are […]

ACTCOSS made a submission to the ACT Government’s Draft Multicultural Recognition Bill 2022 in support of a strong commitment to a diverse, inclusive and anti-racist community. We encouraged the government to act on the commitment to multiculturalism by introducing accessible anti-discrimination reporting and enforcement mechanisms.

ACTCOSS provided a submission to the Inquiry into Access to Services and Information in Auslan. Our submission highlighted that improving access to services and information in Auslan is a human rights issue, which should be addressed with urgency.  We endorse submissions made by Advocacy for Inclusion (AFI) and other disability and carer advocacy organisations, and […]