The 2021 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.
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Response: Sexual Consent Law Reform
ACTCOSS provided feedback on Dr Marisa Paterson's exposure draft of the Crimes (Consent) Amendment Bill 2021, which introduces a new definition of consent based on free and voluntary agreement. We support the Bill yet request further clarity and consultation regarding potential perverse outcomes on marginalised people.
Submission: ACTCOSS ACT Budget Priorities 2021-22
In ACTCOSS’s submission we call for the 2021-22 ACT Budget to work towards a fair and just Canberra through: A sustainable recovery from the social, health and economic shock of COVID-19; Adequate funding for community sector organisations; Addressing the ACT’s ongoing housing crisis; Reducing inequality and supporting increased numbers of Canberrans receiving income support; and Improving outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our submission outlines asks across 15 priority areas supported by evidence and data.
Submission: Inquiry into the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021
ACTCOSS strongly supports passing the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021. Moving toward decriminalising a range of drugs for personal use will have enormous positive impact, especially for some of the most disadvantaged and marginalised people in the ACT and broader community.
Update, Issue 93, June 2021: Celebrating and supporting the ACT's community sector workforce
This edition of the ACTCOSS Update journal celebrates the contribution of the community sector workforce and looks at ways we can ensure its ongoing success. It highlights ways that we can protect our mental health and wellbeing and provides examples of good practice in our organisations. It also shares work being done across the community sector to ensure that we build a sustainable, professionalised and respected workforce.
Submission: Proposed Reforms to Expand Police Use of Body Worn Cameras in Private Contexts
ACTCOSS is concerned about the expansion of police use of body worn cameras into private contexts without consent and without a clear framework for securing footage that is more likely to contain images of victims and other vulnerable people.
Submission: Inquiry into the management of ACT school infrastructure
This submission calls on the ACT Government to prioritise adequate and high-quality school infrastructure in all areas of the ACT, including and especially for pockets of disadvantage in the Territory.
Submission by CGRA: Interactive Gambling Amendment (Prohibition on Credit Card Use) Bill 2020
The Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance (CGRA) urges the committee and all members and senators of the Australia parliament to support the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Prohibition on Credit Card Use) Bill 2020, as the Bill creates an opportunity to reduce gambling harm resulting from online gambling.
Submission by ACTCOSS: Interactive Gambling Amendment (Prohibition on Credit Card Use) Bill 2020
This Bill creates an opportunity to reduce gambling harm resulting from online gambling. ACTCOSS urges the committee and all members and senators of the Australia parliament to support this important Bill.
Submission: Inquiry into the 2020 ACT Election and the Electoral Act
In this submission, ACTCOSS identified concerns around authorising materials under the ACT Electoral Act 1992 and its amendments, and the apparent failure to fully include Alexander Maconochie Centre detainees in the democratic process.
Position statement: Commissioning and Procurement
In this position statement, ACTCOSS outlines its views on commissioning and procurement, based on the collective expectations and expertise of the ACT community sector.
Submission: Inquiry into Renewable Energy Innovation in the ACT
In this submission, ACTCOSS argues that the Inquiry into Renewable Energy Innovation in the ACT must include social innovation.
Letter: Mandatory accessibility standards in Australia's National Building Code
In this letter, ACTCOSS urged Senator Duniam, Assistant Minister for Industry Development, and Rebecca Vassarotti MLA, ACT Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction, to support the inclusion of mandatory accessibility standards in Australia's National Building Code at the upcoming meeting of Building Ministers.
Submission: Consultation draft of the Carers Recognition Bill 2021
In ACTCOSS's submission, we are keen to see investments in practical supports to enhance the wellbeing of carers. We encourage practical measures which allow carers to be recognised and supported in their workplaces and educational institutions, such as carers leave and carer-friendly policies.
We believe that the intended outcomes of the proposed Bill need to be more clearly stated, and that adequate resources need to be allocated to support the Bill.
Submission: Inquiry into the ACT Budget 2020-21
This submission provides a summary of ACTCOSS responses to the 2020-21 ACT Budget announced on 9 February 2021.
ACTCOSS believes that the delayed 2020-21 ACT Budget contained some welcome investments but fell short on the investments and vision required to ensure that Canberrans facing disadvantage are protected as the ACT emerges from the COVID-19 crisis.
Submission: Strengthening Income Support Bill 2021
Regarding JobSeeker, ACTCOSS advocates for an increase of at least $25 a day on top of the old Newstart rate of $40 a day – to bring the JobSeeker rate to $65 a day.
Joint letter: Continuing Advocacy on NDIS Independent Assessments
ACTCOSS joins work led by Advocacy for Inclusion which brings together prominent ACT disability representative and advocacy organisations to make representations to ACT Minister for Disability Emma Davidson MLA highlighting our shared concerns regarding the introduction of independent assessments to the NDIS.
Submission: Evoenergy Gas Network 2021-26 Access Arrangement Revised Proposal and AER Draft Decision
Our submission to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) focused on consumer vulnerability in the transition to net zero emissions by 2045. It encourages both the AER and Evoenergy to ensure that this and future access arrangements address consumer vulnerability and social equity issues.
Submission: ACT Planning Review: Social planning for a changing Canberra
In this wide-ranging submission to the ACT Government’s ongoing Territory Planning Review, ACTCOSS calls for the new planning system to be evidence based, to prioritise people most affected by poor planning and to focus on social and inclusive pla