On 28 April 2022, ACTCOSS hosted a community sector forum with a range of candidates for the 2022 federal election. The forum was an opportunity for local dialogue with a local focus.
Members heard from party/independent candidates present:
- Tim Hollo and Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng (Australian Greens),
- Andrew Leigh (Australian Labor Party),
- David Pocock (Independent Senate Candidate),
- Kim Rubenstein (Independent Senate Candidate)
Candidates gave an opening pitch responding to the ACTCOSS priorities they believe are most important.
At the end of the session, candidates also had the opportunity to feed back to members what they heard.
Acting ACTCOSS CEO Adam Poulter shared his appreciation of the event:
“There was lively discussion on local issues that affect Canberrans, and active listening on all sides of the discussion.
“Ahead of the forum, ACTCOSS reviewed national and local research, and drew on national analysis by the community sector to identify six priority issues that candidates must address if elected. The top two priorities are housing affordability and income support.”
Mr Poulter continued: “The next Government needs to increase national social housing stock by 25,000 homes per year and build at least 425 new social housing dwellings per year in Canberra in line with the best research and the Everybody’s Home campaign.
“The next Government also needs toto respond to the Raise the Rate campaign and increase the rate of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, and other income support payments to at least $70 a day, further supplement the incomes of people with disability and single parents and index to CPI and wages.”
Candidates addressed priority issues affecting the community identified by ACTCOSS in their addresses. The video recordings of their addresses are viewable here.
Mr Poulter reflected on the forum: “ACTCOSS commends the candidates at the forum for their willingness to discuss the issues that are pivotal to building a fairer community in which no one is left behind, and all can share in prosperity as we recover from the COVID pandemic.
“As Canberrans cast their votes we encourage them to look at what the candidates have to say about these issues in their responses to our survey.“
