The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement between ACT Labor and the ACT Greens for the 10th Legislative Assembly.
ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said that many of ACTCOSS’s policy recommendations had been reflected in the Agreement.
“ACTCOSS is hopeful that these policies represent a strong commitment by the new ACT Government to achieving better outcomes for people on low incomes or who face disadvantage,” Dr Campbell said.
She said that the positive commitments in the Agreement included: increased funding for the community sector; reforms to the child protection system; raising the age of criminal responsibility; a just transition to net zero emissions; measures to reduce gambling harm; improvements to planning; increased protections for renters; and more homes built to universal design standards.
“However, while we welcome the agreed initiatives on housing including an additional public housing units, ACTCOSS believes that the new government needs to set more ambitious targets to address Canberra’s housing crisis.
“Community housing needs to be a strong focus if we are to meet the current shortfall of 3,000 social houses in the ACT.
“We also call on the new government to enact a Right to Housing in the ACT Human Rights Act.
“ACTCOSS looks forward to working with the new ACT Government to ensure that this progressive reform agenda is successfully implemented in the coming four years.”
ACTCOSS advocates for social justice in the ACT and represents not-for-profit community organisations.
