In ACTCOSS’s submission we call for the 2022-23 ACT Budget to work towards a fair Canberra by: urgently addressing the housing crisis, adequately funding and valuing the work of community sector organisations, addressing the increasing disadvantage caused by rising costs of living, and supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples' Self-Determination.
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2022 Federal Election Survey - Candidates Responses
ACTCOSS surveyed 2022 federal election candidates on their views about six policy priority areas: income support; housing security; quality community services; fair, fast, and inclusive climate action; self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and revenue. These are their responses.
2022 Federal Election Forum Report
On 28 April 2022, ACTCOSS hosted a members' forum with a range of candidates for the 2022 federal election. The forum was an opportunity for local dialogue with a local focus.
2022 ACT Cost of Living Report
The 2022 ACT Cost of Living Report highlights the dual impact of the highest increase in living costs in over 20 years and the withdrawal of COVID-19 income supports. Over the past 12 months the ACT community sector has seen an increase in demand for social services alongside an increase in poverty, disadvantage and complexity of need among the people and communities they support.
ACTCOSS Federal Election Priorities 2022
In ACTCOSS's Federal Election Priorities 2022, we call on all ACT candidates for the 2022 Federal Election to affirm and state their positions on six policy priorities: income support; housing security; quality community services; fair, fast, inclusive climate action; self-determination for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and revenue.
Submission: Inquiry into Auditor-General Report: 4/2020 - Residential Land Supply and Release
Our submission calls for the Indicative Land Release Program to be informed by modelling of the community need for social and affordable housing.
Report: Counting the Costs: Sustainable funding for the ACT community services sector
This report informs development of more sustainable models of resourcing for the ACT community services sector. It presents a comprehensive picture of the costs involved in delivering community services, the cost pressures experienced by community organisations in the ACT, and ways to ensure funding is sustainable and at levels that meet community needs.
Submission: Discrimination Law Reform in the ACT
ACTCOSS made a submission on Discrimination Law Reform in the ACT. We strongly support bringing discrimination law in line with the ACT Human Rights Act (2004) and strengthening mechanisms to respond to discrimination when it occurs.
Submission: Inquiry into Public Health Amendment Bill 2021 (No 2)
ACTCOSS supports the proposed Public Health Amendment Bill. The Bill will provide a regulatory framework to manage health risks around COVID-19 and is better suited to addressing public health concerns than emergency public health orders.
Letter: ACT Policing Introduction of Online Reporting
ACTCOSS wrote to ACT Policing and Minister for Police and Emergency Services expressing concern about the recent move to digital reporting for some types of property crime. There are many for whom digital reporting is inaccessible and exclusionary.
Factsheet: 2021 ACT Community Sector Demand Snapshot
This factsheet provides a snapshot of key findings for the ACT from the Australian Community Sector Survey 2021. These include that in 2021:
- services are confronting increased poverty and disadvantage in the community
- demand for community services has increased
- the ability of community services to meet demand has fallen
- despite the challenges, the community sector has played a key part in strengthening Australia's recovery.
Submission: Religious Discrimination Bill 2021
ACTCOSS made a submission to the federal Religious Discrimination Bill 2021, endorsing Equality Australia's position that the Bill will remove protections for LGBTIQA+ people, women, people with disabilities and others. We need fair and equal discrimination laws that protect all of us, equally.
Submission: Minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes in the ACT consultation paper
This submission outlines why the establishment of minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes in the ACT is an important social justice measure. The submission responds to each of the issues raised in the consultation paper: the proposed standard; support for introduction of the standard; implementation issues; and evaluation and review.
ACTCOSS Annual Report 2020-21
This ACTCOSS annual report highlights our achievements for 2020-21, including major policy advocacy and capability activities.
Submission: Ending no cause evictions and other measures - Proposed reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997
In this submission, ACTCOSS supports: the removal of no cause terminations from the Act, prohibiting rent bidding, introducing best practice minimum standards for all residential tenancies, and strengthening the rights of tenants to grow food and to compost.
Factsheet: Poverty and COVID-19 in the ACT
This factsheet brings together a range of important data and information on poverty and inequality in the ACT.
Response: Updated Commissioning Roadmap 2021-2023 (v2.3)
ACTCOSS has responded to the ACT Government’s updated Commissioning Roadmap. There are some positives including identification of priority sub-sectors, clarity of procurement pathways and more information of contract flexibility and extensions during the commissioning processes. However, we remain concerned that there is more work needed on identifying outcomes, an explanation of cross-directorate engagement, and the importance of appropriate budgets to ensure timely and informed engagement from the community sector.
ACT Budget Bulletin 2021-22
This bulletin provides a summary of ACTCOSS responses to the 2021-22 ACT Budget announced on 13 October 2021.
Submission: Parliamentary Inquiry: Housing affordability and supply in Australia
In ACTCOSS's submission to the Australian Parliamentary Inquiry into housing affordability and supply in Australia, we urged the federal government to invest in public housing and renew its focus on community housing, and provided a number of othe
Submission: Libraries ACT: Imagine 2030
This submission responds to Libraries ACT’s Imagine 2030 process to co-design our future libraries with the community. In this submission, ACTCOSS acknowledges the significant role that Libraries ACT plays in supporting social justice in our community.