Friday July 12, 2019: Formally acknowledging and reconciling the wrongs perpetrated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people-and their long legacy of ongoing trauma-must be a national priority.
It’s crucial the Federal Government works genuinely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to get the process and the wording right.
Australia’s network of Councils of Social Service welcomes the Commonwealth’s commitment to move forward with Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as part of a broader push towards genuine, meaningful and lasting reconciliation.
Everyone has a role to play in this journey, which begins with respecting the leadership of First Nations people.
Recognition must be more than words.
Words alone cannot soothe our nation.
Our commitments must be written in our actions.
There is a lot of work to be done. Amending the Constitution must not be allowed to replace other acts of recognition or reconciliation.
Makarrata, or the process towards a national Treaty, remains unfinished business.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart remains unfinished business.
We commit to playing our part in this process.
We commit to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and governments of goodwill to make reconciliation and self-determination a reality.
Community Sector Banking & ACOSS announce new partnership to strengthen community & NFP sector
5 July 2019
ACOSS welcomes Labor’s opposition to locking in unaffordable tax cuts 5 years in advance
24 June 2019
Stage 3 tax cuts would guarantee funding cuts
24 June 2019
RBA Governor acknowledges the benefits of an increase in Newstart, as a way to strengthen a slowing economy
20 June 2019
Australian Climate Roundtable renews its commitment to successful action on climate change
30 May 2019
ACOSS welcomes Morrison Government Ministry congratulating Minister Wyatt on historic appointment
27 May 2019
ACOSS tribute to Bob Hawke
17 May 2019
Commitments on childcare and dental are essential services the community needs, and wants
29 April 2019
Election 2019: Healthy, inclusive, thriving communities need quality, secure community services
12 April 2019
Statement on Cashless Debit legislation
5 April 2019
ACOSS welcomes Labor’s commitment to funding services over high-end tax cuts but people on Newstart again left behind
5 April 2019
Government turns its back on people who have the least, and guarantees more cuts to essential services
2 April 2019
Who’s afraid of advocacy?
30 March 2019
Open letter from the Community Sector
30 March 2019
Townsville City Council endorses increase to Newstart and ACOSS calls on federal politicians to follow suit
27 March 2019
Fill the gaps in our health system through smarter, fairer investment and tackling inequalities
27 March 2019
ACOSS responds to Labor’s living wage policy, calling for it to be partnered with an increase to Newstart
26 March 2019
Energy efficiency not new coal
7 March 2019
Government’s climate policy failing people on low-incomes
25 February 2019
ACOSS budget submission calls for revenue raising to fund services, including disability services; urges action on Royal Commission
18 February 2019
Government’s own evaluation of racist, remote work-for-the-dole program finds it is widening the gap
7 February 2019
New report shows regulated retail price could save NSW, Vic, Qld & SA households more than $300 a year on electricity bills
4 February 2019
MYEFO: another fairness failure by the Morrison Government
17 December 2018
ACOSS urges Labor to improve disgracefully inadequate Newstart motion at ALP Conference – people cannot keep waiting in poverty for a review
17 December 2018
ACOSS calls for fundamental reform of employment services on release of expert review of jobactive
14 December 2018
Philanthropic boost to raise the rate
10 December 2018
Australian First: Cross Party Support for Raising Newstart
6 December 2018
Community sector condemns social security cuts for migrants
4 December 2018
Joint letter to Australian Labor Party urging them to oppose migrant social security cuts
3 December 2018
ACOSS welcomes ALP commitment to faster clean energy transition but not enough focus on support for low-income earners
22 November 2018
From Kerryn to Derryn, Bob to Bandt – entire lower house crossbench and key senate crossbenchers support increase to Newstart
16 November 2018
New report shows three million Australians living in poverty
16 October 2018
Raising Newstart and Youth Allowance would boost jobs, wages and inject millions into local communities
17 September 2018
Getting a job on Newstart is harder than you think
14 September 2018
ACOSS calls on Parliament to increase Newstart & Youth Allowance
10 September 2018
ACOSS welcomes move to scrap final ‘zombie’ measure
5 September 2018
Energy supplement safe. Corporate tax cuts defeated. Now the government must raise the rate of Newstart.
22 August 2018
ACNC legislation review affirms ‘Fix Fundraising’ coalition’s calls for major reform of fundraising
22 August 2018
Senate must reject cashless debit card legislation
16 August 2018
National Energy Guarantee is shifting costs from big businesses to people – it must be reviewed
10 August 2018
A case of upside down? Households must not subsidise big corporations under the National Energy Guarantee (NEG)
8 August 2018
My Health Record
4 July 2018
It’s a good news story! The Local Government National Assembly votes in support of an increase to Newstart
20 June 2018
Raise the Rate – ACOSS coming to South Australia
12 June 2018
ACOSS and Go8 sign ground-breaking equity agreement
30 April 2018
Abandonment of Medicare Levy increase signals worrying shift from essential services to tax cuts
26 April 2018
Taking the ‘human’ out of human services
23 April 2018
Keep working on the National Energy Guarantee
18 April 2018
Our appeal to the senate
24 March 2018
We’ll all pay for company and other tax cuts
22 March 2018
The tax cut war and why everyone must pay for essential services, including wealthy shareholders
14 March 2018
Non-energy market solutions for low income households
28 February 2018
Disability Support Pension cuts bad news for people affected
21 February 2018
Tax cuts a mistake while service funding shortfalls remain and unemployment payment too low
13 February 2018
ACNC Commissioner put on notice by National COSS Network
19 December 2017
ACOSS welcomes marriage equality
8 December 2017
ACNC appointment an attack on the charity sector
7 December 2017
The Senate must reject mandatory cashless debit cards
7 December 2017
Fix revenue to fill gaping holes in essential services, not raid it for election year tax cuts: ACOSS
4 December 2017
Silencing Australians: The result of the federal government’s proposed donations ban
30 November 2017
Restore the public revenue piggy bank to fund NDIS & other essential services, don’t break it now to cut taxes, ACOSS warns
22 November 2017
Marriage equality finally recognised
15 November 2017
United call for Australian Parliament to respect and back full Uluru Statement from the Heart
5 November 2017
Let’s tackle child poverty in Australia
15 October 2017
COSS Network urges a Yes Vote for Marriage Equality
29 September 2017
Hawke Government reduced child poverty – we can too!
29 September 2017
ACOSS statement on No Jab No Pay
14 September 2017
New figures are a wake-up call to government
14 September 2017
ACOSS statement on marriage equality
8 August 2017
ACOSS Statement on drug testing
8 August 2017
Child poverty crisis hits single parent families
2 August 2017
Trust in trusts is broken. ACOSS calls on Federal Government to implement trusts reform
1 August 2017
Treasurer Scott Morrison addresses Australia’s Community Sector at ACOSS Post Budget Breakfast
12 May 2017
Media alert: The People’s Budget
8 May 2017
Treasurer clears path towards a national housing affordability policy: will it be the right one?
10 April 2017
ACOSS condemns company tax cuts
1 April 2017
The Social Services Legislation Amendment Bill – Omnibus Mark 2 – is unfair and should not have passed
23 March 2017
We can reduce poverty, inequality and the budget deficit: ACOSS Budget Submission 2017
27 February 2017
MEDIA ALERT: ACOSS releases Budget proposals – 10.30am (AEDT) Monday 27 February 2017
26 February 2017
Joint Statement: Community sector welcomes Parliament’s opposition to social security cuts to fund the NDIS
15 February 2017
MEDIA ALERT: Turnbull Govt must not abandon essential social housing and homelessness services
15 February 2017
ACOSS Statement on linking Omnibus Bill cuts to NDIS
13 February 2017
No room for partisan politics in energy
13 February 2017
ACOSS: Reports of NAHA axing ‘alarming’
10 February 2017
ACOSS urges Parliament to reject latest attempt to cut incomes of poorest in new Omnibus Bill
8 February 2017
Centrelink debt fiasco must end immediately
11 January 2017
ACOSS CEO response to MYEFO
19 December 2016
KPMG repeats its call for an increase to Newstart
6 December 2016
By asking wrong questions, PC Inquiry distracts from the big challenges facing human services
5 December 2016
ACOSS welcomes ‘first big step’ towards superannuation reform
23 November 2016
ACOSS backs call to rein in tax breaks for wealthy seniors as unaffordable and unfair
21 November 2016
ACOSS welcomes homeless smartphone deal, but more to be done
20 November 2016
Media Alert – ACOSS National Conference: Leading the big debates
14 November 2016
Child poverty on the rise: 730,000 children in poverty
16 October 2016
Media alert: ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie available for response to investment approach to welfare
20 September 2016
ACOSS Statement: superannuation changes announced
16 September 2016
Reprieve for Newstart recipients but the budget threat remains
14 September 2016
Australia’s leading community groups join with ACOSS to oppose cuts to social security payments
12 September 2016
Royal Commission Must Examine Nauru Abuse
10 August 2016
ACOSS welcomes second Turnbull Government, calls for consensus approach to Budget policy
15 July 2016
ACOSS strongly opposes further ‘crackdowns’ on welfare payments to fund spending promises in this election.
28 June 2016
Labor’s social policy framework lays strong foundation to reduce poverty and inequality
17 March 2016
Government cannot allow vested interests to railroad much-needed reform to negative gearing
3 March 2016
Cassandra Goldie to outline ACOSS Budget proposals: 10.30am
25 February 2016
Government policies ignore children in poverty: ACOSS
25 February 2016
Australia’s international aid and community sector backs church sanctuary offer for asylum seekers
4 February 2016
Happy New Year from the ACOSS Team
12 January 2016
Don’t sign up to a shocking deal, ACOSS urges nation’s leaders
11 December 2015
Tax reform cannot be a deal struck behind closed doors on GST
11 December 2015
ACOSS announces Tasmanian Tony Reidy as new President
30 November 2015
Weatherill’s tax and services proposal poses big risks for taxpayers and service users
27 November 2015
Using a higher GST to pay for income tax cuts is a ‘recipe for more inequality, with higher income earners the winners’
5 November 2015
Federation Reform: Councils of Social Service call for ‘community service guarantees’ and fair tax reform to pay for them
21 October 2015
Too many unanswered questions and too little evidence to support cashless welfare card
12 October 2015
Councils of Social Service call for development of national plan to tackle poverty and inequality in Australia
11 October 2015
ACOSS raises concerns with Debit Card Trials
29 September 2015
Senate Inquiry report damning of destructive, disrespectful Commonwealth community service tendering processes: ACOSS
17 September 2015
ACOSS calls on Government to move on from harsh plan to deprive young unemployed people of income support
10 September 2015
Summit makes for diverse allies to reform economy
7 September 2015
National Reform Summit should look at all the options
20 August 2015
National Councils of Social Service urge Senate to vote down 4 week wait period for income support
11 August 2015
ACOSS appears before Senate Inquiry at 9am today
5 August 2015
Restructure super system to deliver income security, fund crucial services and drive inclusive growth: ACOSS
4 August 2015
ACOSS and BCA Joint Statement on Tax Reform
20 July 2015
We saved you a trip to Canberra: Our political leaders come to the ACOSS National Conference 2015
23 June 2015
ACOSS on Budget 2015: Better direction but lower income earners still doing the heavy lifting
12 May 2015
ACOSS on Budget 2015: Better direction but lower income earners still doing the heavy lifting
12 May 2015
Drop unfair plan to lower pension indexation, reform super and pension assets test instead
1 April 2015
Government must scrap harsh plan to deprive young people of income support for six months: ACOSS
20 March 2015
National call for urgent reversal of $1 billion worth of damaging cuts to community services
2 March 2015
ACOSS to respond to McClure Welfare Review: 2pm
25 February 2015
Welfare Review: right questions, flawed model
25 February 2015
Raising revenue and funding social equity: ACOSS address at CEDA
20 February 2015
PC Report fundamentals good but risks for low income households must be addressed: ACOSS
20 February 2015
ACOSS on attacks on the Australian Human Rights Commission
16 February 2015
ACOSS on rise in Australia’s unemployment rate
12 February 2015
Joint Community-business tax reform dialogue gains momentum
7 February 2015
A small business tax cut is not a jobs plan: ACOSS
2 February 2015
Budget must chart a fairer path back to surplus: ACOSS
29 January 2015
Tax: Are we paying our fair share?
23 January 2015
Government urged to make a new start in 2015
30 December 2014
Shutting down community voices will weaken Government’s ability to make effective reforms
23 December 2014
New Cabinet: Opportunity to reset unfair Budget policies and work together on major reforms
22 December 2014
Groups call for rejection of Healthy Welfare Card
12 December 2014
Revised GP co-payment still bad public policy: ACOSS
10 December 2014
Inequality report confirms need for policy rethink
4 December 2014
Community and business come together to call for tax reform
1 December 2014
10 stories to Premier in Sydney
13 November 2014
Australia’s community sector meets ahead of G20 to call for a national inclusive growth plan
11 November 2014
Major report to reveal poverty is growing in Australia
10 October 2014
Government report finds plan to deprive young people of income support breaches human rights
30 September 2014
Negative gearing boosts housing costs, not the economy
24 September 2014
Health groups call for leadership in healthcare funding
23 September 2014
No income means no income, whether it’s 26 weeks or four weeks
2 September 2014
Big power company profits: the real outcome of any changes to the Renewable Energy Target
18 August 2014
Community Organisations to get savvy with IT
7 August 2014
Forrest review includes some sound proposals, but radical social security changes should be rejected
1 August 2014
ACOSS pays tribute to Graeme Innes’ contribution as Disability Discrimination Commissioner
5 July 2014
ACOSS calls on government to dump plan to cut payments for young unemployed people and focus on jobs
5 June 2014
ACOSS National Conference to discuss the future of public policy and advocacy in Australia
4 June 2014
Focus on jobs not penalising people: ACOSS
28 May 2014
G20 lead-in gets underway with C20 Summit
21 May 2014
Community sector response to Federal Budget
13 May 2014
Audit fails the fairness test: ACOSS
1 May 2014
Senate should oppose repeal of clean energy laws
17 March 2014
NRAS vital in increasing affordable housing stock
11 March 2014
Community organisations call for a certain future for family violence services: Doorstop
6 March 2014
ACOSS to appear at Senate Inquiry into Commission of Audit
18 February 2014
ACOSS CEO to outline a responsible path to budget reform at CEDA
12 February 2014
Budget should be based on needs, not wants: ACOSS
10 February 2014
ACOSS calls for Budget to be based on needs, not wants
9 February 2014
ACOSS response to Government’s plans for ACNC
30 January 2014
ACOSS CEO on review of social security payments
22 January 2014
ACOSS to respond to review of social security payments
21 January 2014
End Child Poverty Starting with Newstart
1 January 2014
Cool head needed to restore budget balance: ACOSS
17 December 2013
It’s electricity, but not as we know it – Future Grid Forum
6 December 2013
Commission of Audit must confront long term challenges, not deliver ‘quick fix’ cuts: ACOSS
29 November 2013
ACOSS to call on Commission of Audit to confront long term challenges, not ‘quick fix’ cuts
28 November 2013
Tackling rising child poverty must be core purpose of 44th Parliament and Commission of Audit
12 November 2013
ACOSS/UNICEF call for tackling rising child poverty to be core purpose of 44th parliament
11 November 2013
Aboriginal organisations and NGOs launch collaboration to put communities back in control in the NT
1 November 2013
National Commission of Audit must be about long term sustainability not short term cuts
23 October 2013
Time to face the facts on rural poverty in Australia
14 October 2013
Rural poverty: time to face the facts
11 October 2013
St Petersburg G20 Summit: Australian C20 statement
9 September 2013
Tackle inequality within and between nations to boost jobs, economic growth: G20 told
4 September 2013
ACOSS calls for reform of family payments to tackle child poverty: New campaign is launched
23 August 2013
ACOSS to release modelling on reform of Australia’s family payment system to reduce child poverty
22 August 2013
Stand up for cheaper medicines!
20 August 2013
Economic Statement not bold enough: ACOSS
2 August 2013
Housing affordability crucial for job seekers
17 July 2013
Budget secures landmark disability and education reforms, but gaping hole for poorest on allowances
14 May 2013
Lack of affordable housing report highlights desperate plight of people surviving on Newstart
29 April 2013
ACOSS welcomes BCA call for long term plan and strong relationship with community sector
17 April 2013
ACOSS National Conference Newstart Resolution
26 March 2013
Wake up call for the nation: More than 620, 000 people with disability living in poverty
22 March 2013
Tackle $6 billion in tax loopholes and Budget ‘waste’ to make room for priority programs
11 March 2013
Not an either-or: Newstart must be lifted
7 March 2013
National ACOSS Board congratulates passing of historic Act of Aboriginal Recognition
15 February 2013
Increase in payments is ‘affordable’ and urgent to reduce poverty and unemployment in Australia
12 February 2013
No happy New Year for people hit by benefit changes
1 January 2013
New Year must bring a better safety net for single parents and people looking for work
21 December 2012
Roundtable begins search for ways to improve job opportunities for disadvantaged groups
21 December 2012
OECD joins growing call for increase in Newstart Allowance
11 December 2012
Better dental care is in the States’ hands
7 December 2012
Joint Statement on ACOSS, ACTU and BCA Cooperation
3 December 2012
Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers reaches a new low
22 November 2012
Federal homelessness commitment welcomed, now states and territories must come on board
14 November 2012
Census figures a wake-up call for action on affordable housing crisis leading to homelessness
12 November 2012
Radical redesign coupled with increase in low payments needed for broken employment services
30 October 2012
Major report to reveal poverty is too high in Australia
12 October 2012
Welfare groups and human rights lawyers appeal to UN to prevent damaging sole parent payment cuts
5 October 2012
Mind the Gap: People on Newstart falling further behind
20 September 2012
Community sector applauds proposal to legislate to ban gag-clauses
19 September 2012
First-ever Gender Audit shows Community Sector leading the way in leadership roles for women
12 September 2012
Newstart comparisons ‘misleading’
10 September 2012
National ACOSS Board condemns return to offshore processing with risk of indefinite detention
17 August 2012
Economics Committee report welcome, now on to 1 October
16 August 2012
Groups applaud Queensland Government’s move to pull out of punitive and wasteful truants scheme
18 June 2012
Ground breaking new policy on charities released
15 June 2012
ACOSS welcomes Government’s nominee to head Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission
6 June 2012
ACOSS urges parliamentarians to reject legislation cutting payments for single parent families
31 May 2012
Budget surplus should not be built on backs of Australia’s poorest families and their children
4 May 2012
ACOSS welcomes NDIS announcement as long overdue
30 April 2012
ACOSS welcomes roll back of Super tax breaks for very high income earners as step in right direction
28 April 2012
ACOSS Report identifies $8b in Budget savings
26 April 2012
