Election Platform

Older Canberrans’ wellbeing and rights need to be supported by age-friendly policies, services and infrastructure, with a particular focus on older Canberrans most vulnerable to exclusion. To achieve this, ACTCOSS calls on the incoming ACT Government to adopt a range of policy measures, including: more social and affordable housing for older Canberrans investment in timely […]

Gambling is a source of substantial and wide-ranging harms to Canberrans, contributing to financial and mental distress, relationship breakdown, family and domestic violence, productivity loss, and increased risk of suicide. Electronic gaming machines (EGMs, also known as pokies) are the greatest source of gambling harm in the ACT, and are not regulated in a way […]

The 2024 ACT Cost of Living Report shows that the extent and severity of financial stress in Canberra has worsened as the cost-of-living crisis has continued, hitting low-income households hardest. The report reveals that over the past five years, children, young people and families have been disproportionately impacted by above-inflation increases in the cost of […]

Everyone needs a home. A home where they feel safe, a home that’s secure, and a home they can afford. Yet for a growing number of Canberrans, an affordable home is beyond reach. Our housing system is broken, and housing stress and homelessness is harming individuals, families and the wider community. Business-as-usual, with a reliance […]

ACTCOSS 2020 ACT Election issue brief: Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Self-Determination ACTCOSS calls on the next ACT Government to consult with the Ngunnawal people and all Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT on policies to ensure a just and fair Canberra, including: Mandatory Aboriginal and / or […]

ACTCOSS 2020 ACT Election issue brief: Older Canberrans and Aged Care For a just and fair Canberra, the next ACT Government must: Invest in social housing and community transport to meet community need, including for older Canberrans Commit to all new residential properties in the ACT built to meet Universal Design standards making them accessible […]

ACTCOSS 2020 ACT Election issue brief: Poverty, Inequality and the Cost of Living For a just and fair Canberra, the next ACT Government must: Take action on the fundamentals of social and economic justice, including: Publicly call for a permanent and adequate increase (above the poverty line) to JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and related Commonwealth payments […]

ACTCOSS 2020 ACT Election issue brief: Supporting Canberra’s Women, Children and Families For a just and fair Canberra, the next ACT Government must: Build a child protection system capable of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children while working to keep families together and/or connected through measures including: An independent external review mechanism for child […]

ACTCOSS 2020 ACT Election issue brief: Climate and Energy: A Just Transition For a just and fair Canberra, the next ACT Government must: Implement an effective plan for a just transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT by 2045, if not sooner. This must: Develop a roadmap for low-income and other vulnerable […]

ACTCOSS 2020 ACT Election issue brief: Fulfilling the Promise of the ACT as a Human Rights Jurisdiction For a just and fair Canberra, the next ACT Government must: Incorporate all Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the ACT Human Rights Act (2004) including: the right to housing; the right to an adequate standard of living; […]