Australian Council of Social Service

Major parties must agree to increase Newstart to reduce worsening poverty

22 May 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today called on the nation's major political parties to agree to move urgently to legislate an increase in low income support payments, such as Newstart Allowance, in order to stem the rise in poverty, following the release of yet another report showing that people are falling deeper into poverty in our country.

"The Salvation Army report shines a spotlight on a problem community welfare groups, the business sector, unions and others have been raising for a long time," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie. "We know that the $35 a day Newstart payment is now grossly inadequate and has been allowed to fall further behind community living standards because it's not properly indexed and hasn't been increased in real terms for nearly 20 years.

"This new report puts a human face to the impact of the federal government's decision to cut the payments of over 80,000 single parents, most of whom are women. Not only has there been a 12% increase in people on Newstart seeking help from the Salvation Army, more than 40% cent were single parents with children older than seven. This is the age at which parents are forced off parenting payments onto Newstart Allowance, losing between $60-$110 a week.

"The Government was warned the move would be extremely damaging. We're been hearing from so many single parents about the impacts since they came into effect in January, and now we have solid data to illustrate this.

"It is distressing that about 60% of people seeking emergency relief from the Salvation Army cannot afford dental treatment and 35% go without prescribed medication. More than half the 2705 respondents said they could not pay for out-of-school activities for their children and 37% could not afford school activities such as excursions.

"The government's Budget announcement that people can keep more of their Newstart Allowance when they find employment does not help the 4 out of 5 people on Newstart who cannot get into paid work. The Salvation Army report highlights the challenges facing jobseekers - from finding child care, to inadeqate help from employment services for people disadvantaged in the labour market. People can't simply walk out of poverty into paid employment tomorrow, as is often naively assumed.

"It was extremely disappointing that the federal Government chose not to include an increase in the Newstart payment in last week's Budget, despite widespread community support.

"It was also disturbing that on the same day that the House of Representatives passed an Australian Greens motion declaring that the rate of Newstart Allowance is too low last week, the federal Opposition announced that it would take away a $4 a week supplement that provides a little extra support to those people on Allowance payments who are falling deeper into poverty.

"An increase in the lowest social security payments for single people including single parents is the one policy that would have the most immediate and widespread impact on the lives of people affected by poverty. Lifting the single rate of allowance payments would help lift almost one million people out of the most desperate of situations. Greater investment in employment assistance for those most disadvantaged in the labour market is also essential.

"As a nation we can and should do better. We call on our elected representatives to show leadership on this issue and legislate a much needed $50 increase in Allowance payments for single people as a matter of urgency," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Targeting Budget waste needs to free up spending for poverty alleviation: ACOSS

17 May 2013

The Australian Council of Social service has said it is very concerned with elements of the Opposition's Budget reply speech that would see income reduced for the poorest people in our community.

"On the same day that the House of Representatives passed a motion declaring that the rate of Newstart Allowance is too low, it is particularly disappointing to hear that the Opposition plans to take away a $4 a week supplement that provides much needed extra support. For these households, every dollar counts," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"This is inconsistent with the overwhelming evidence and widespread consensus in the community that allowance payments like Newstart are way too low. The only logic in withdrawing the Income Support Bonus would be to make way for a clear commitment to increase the meagre $35 a day base rate of these allowances.

"With one in eight people in poverty in Australia we need to be doing more to alleviate poverty, not less. It's hard to see how stripping $210 from more than one million people on the lowest incomes will make the situation better.

"The announcement that the Low Income Superannuation Contribution will be scrapped will also hurt low income earners who are most in need of a boost to their retirement savings. Superannuation tax concessions are already skewed towards the top end of income earners, yet this plan will further disadvantage those on lower incomes.

"We understand the current fiscal challenges and agree that we need bold action to strengthen the Budget if we are to fund important social infrastructure programs for our nation. We are pleased that it appears that some of the savings in this area will have bi-partisan support, such as the Medical Expenses Tax Offset. The reality is that most of the current waste in the Budget is on the revenue side, in the form of unsustainable tax breaks and concessions that predominantly benefit people on higher incomes. These are the areas we should be targeting for reform, not the income to people who are already living below the poverty line.

"There is no doubt that whoever forms government after the coming election will have a major task ahead in securing a sustainable revenue stream for vital services and infrastructure. These measures can be done with wide public support by targeting waste, not the essential services and benefits for people who are struggling the most.

"We welcome the proposal to develop a white paper to progress tax reform. Ultimately we need comprehensive tax reform that takes Henry Tax review proposals forward.

"We also need a national conversation about what benefits and services we can expect from government to focus on unmet needs, such as disability care, health, education and the alleviation of poverty in our country. Public spending should be rebalanced towards those who need support the most," Dr Goldie said.

ACOSS Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

ACOSS calls on major parties to agree to increase Newstart

16 May 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today welcomed the passing of a motion in the House of Representatives declaring that the rate of Newstart Allowance is too low.

"We praise the Australian Greens motion moved by Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt, which passed the House of Representatives today." said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"We now call on our nation's major political parties to agree to move urgently to legislate an increase in the low payment to help some of the most disadvantaged people in our community.

"The failure to include an increase in the abysmally low $35 a day payment in Tuesday's Budget was not good enough. It is cruel to now acknowledge the payment is not enough and yet do nothing about it.

"We need to translate this widespread community and now political support into action. We call on the major parties to include a clear commitment to increase income support allowances, such as Newstart, without delay," said Dr Goldie.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Budget secures landmark disability and education reforms, but gaping hole for poorest on allowances

14 May 2013

"ACOSS warmly welcomes the Federal Government's vision to secure disability care and dental and schools reform and the strengthening of public revenue to secure funding for these and other services, but cannot believe that there is no income relief for the people who are the poorest," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie. 

"We praise the move by the Treasurer to lock in government expenditure on crucial social reforms such as education and disability care, in some cases for a decade. We have also been strong supporters of the more equitable and effective system for dental care in Australia and that begins with two-thirds of all children in this Budget. These are not only visionary reforms but long overdue," Dr Goldie said.

"However, we remain deeply concerned at the failure to reduce the rate of poverty in Australia by increasing the single rate of Newstart and other allowances. While we welcome the modest easing of income rates for people on Newstart and other allowances, the Government has failed to assist the four-fifths of Allowance recipients who are unable to obtain paid work. Each year we fail to act, this gaping hole in our safety net grows. One in eight people, including one in six children, are living in poverty and an increase in the lowest social security payments would have the most immediate and direct impact in reducing it.

"On the savings side, there are some incredibly important measures in this Budget. In addition to the welcome increase in the Medicare levy to fund DisabilityCare Australia, we are pleased that the Budget makes significant inroads into closing tax loopholes and inefficient tax arrangements. With tax receipts down by over $20 billion from the pre-GFC period, we must pull back from generous tax breaks that are not delivering on policy outcomes and eroding our tax base. ACOSS advocated the extension of the Medicare Safety Net threshold, the abolition of the medical expenses tax offset, the capping of self-education expense deductions and the tightening of the thin capitalisation rules, all of which we welcome in this Budget.

"We are also pleased that there is greater investment in tackling tax evasion through trusts. We would have liked to have seen changes to tax rules as well, but hope this commences the reforms needed to close this glaring tax loophole.

"We welcome the integrating of the baby bonus into the family payments system so that it is better targeted but remain concerned about reductions in payments for the poorest families.

"The next step to secure our economic and social progress must be to strengthen revenue. Otherwise we face painful cuts to essential expenditure down the track. Australia is the 5th lowest taxing country in the OECD. If we want a decent safety net, and universal health education and dental services, as well as the housing and infrastructure for present and future generations, we need a sustainable tax base," Dr Goldie said.

ACOSS MEDIA CONTACT: 0419 626 155

Welcome measures in Budget 2013
• Securing the introduction of DisabilityCare Australia
• Building the blocks towards a more equitable basis for oral health care by funding the ‘Growing Up Smiling' program for two-thirds of children up to 17 years
• $9.8b in new funding for reform to improve equity of schools funding
• Continuing funding for the National Congress of Australia's First People
• Improved savings measures through the removal of tax loopholes and inefficient tax arrangements including:
o extension of the Medicare safety net threshold;
o abolition of the Medical Expenses Tax Offset;
o capping of self-education expenses; and
o tightening of the thin capitalisation rules.

Disappointing measures
• Failure to increase the base rate of Newstart and other allowances for single people; and to index allowance payments to wages
• Some reductions to family payments that will hit the poorest families

Key Facts on Poverty in Australia
• One in eight adults and one in six children are living below the poverty line.
• That number is growing.
• Increasing the base rate to single Allowance payments would have been the most direct and immediate way to reduce the most severe poverty in Australia and would have cost a modest $1.8 billion pa.

For ACOSS reports, publications and media release visit our website: http://www.acoss.org.au/

Joint Community Sector Response to Federal Budget

14 May 2013

Who: CEO's and representatives of major charities and national community welfare organisations

When: 10am Wednesday May 15, 2013

Where: Senate Courtyard, Parliament House, Canberra

Leaders of Australia's major charities and national community welfare organisations will stage a joint press conference to respond to the federal Budget at 10am on Wednesday 15th May in the Senate Courtyard of Parliament House in Canberra.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas at ACOSS - 0419 626 155

Participants so far include:
Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service
Carol Croce, CEO, Community Housing Federation of Australia
Andrew Cummings, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
John Falzon, CEO, St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia
Steve Hackett, Executive Director, Family & Relationship Services Australia with Chairperson Michael Austin
Brad Halse, Spokesperon, The Salvation Army
Leah Hobson, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
Lisa O'Brien, CEO, The Smith Family
Paul O'Callaghan, CEO, Catholic Social Services Australia
David Pigott - Mission Australia
Therese Sands, CEO, People With Disability Australia
Andrea Simmons - CEO, Disability Advocacy Network Australia

Lack of action to increase Newstart Allowance fails most disadvantaged

13 May 2013

Community welfare groups have expressed deep disappointment today at the news that the federal Government will not include a much needed increase in the below poverty line Newstart Allowance payment in Tuesday's Budget, despite growing community support.

"We welcome the news that the income free area will be increased to allow people on the $35 a day payment to keep more of the money that they earn. However, this will do nothing for the 4 out of 5 people on Newstart who cannot get into paid work and have no other earnings," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service.

"Increasing the income free area is only one part of the package and does nothing to help the most disadvantaged groups. We must address the inadequate allowance payment rates that have been effectively frozen in time for the past 20 years. And we must also invest in more employment assistance, especially for the long term unemployed, if we are to help people get into work and reduce poverty in Australia."

Terese Edwards from the National Council for Single Mothers and their Children said, "Allowing people to earn a bit more alone does not respond to the damage that has been done to around 80,000 single parent families.

"The Government has ripped $700,000 million dollars out the pockets of needy sole parent families, and will give around $300 million back to a potential pool of around 800,000 people on Newstart. This is simply inadequate," Ms Edwards said.

Maree O'Halloran from the National Welfare Rights Network said, "Increasing the income free area to $100 per fortnight will assist many of the people who call our Centres across Australia who are struggling to find full-time work. The increase may also encourage more people on Newstart to take up casual shifts."

"Lifting and indexing to the earnings thresholds, access to education support through the Pensioner Education Supplement and extending access to the valuable Pensioner Concession Card are important reforms. They could have been properly applauded if they had been accompanied by the much -needed increase to Newstart."

"We urge the community, business, the ACTU and all members of the Federal Parliament to continue to support a much needed $50 per week increase to the single Newstart Allowance and improved payment indexation arrangements," Ms O'Halloran said.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Fernando de Freitas at ACOSS - 0419 626 155
Terese Edwards - NCSMC - 0439 211 493
Gerard Thomas - National Welfare Rights Network - 0425 296 882

Bread and Water Call to Action: Show your support for increase to Newstart

8 May 2013

Join Community Press Conference – 12.00 Thursday May 9, 2013

Redfern Park, Sydney NSW (Chalmers street end, near grand stand) MAP

Bread and water will be supplied to symbolise the meagre existence of life on Newstart Allowance.

ACOSS is asking all supporters of the campaign to increase the single rate of allowances, including Newstart and Youth Allowance, to join our lunchtime press conference at Redfern Park on Thursday May 9, 2013.

ACOSS will be conducting a press conference to insist that the low payments must be increased by $50 a week when the Budget is delivered on Tuesday 14th May.

We are extremely concerned by media speculation today that the Government will not increase the Newstart rate in next week’s Budget – despite the overwhelming support across the community for such an increase.

Almost 1 million people are struggling to survive on these payments – single parents, people with disability, people long term unemployed, and older workers.

ACOSS understands the huge pressure on this Budget, but it is not the time for the most vulnerable to be asked to carry the load.

This year’s Budget is the time to fix this – we urge the government to be courageous and do the right thing by some of the most disadvantaged people in our community.

Please join us and spread the word!

See this video: $35 a day is not enough: Geraldine and Tony's Story.

Find out more about $35 a day is not enough! campaign.

Call for the single most important act to alleviate poverty for almost 1 million people and their children!

Adequacy of carbon price compensation must be legislated

8 May 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today called for legislation to ensure that an independent, transparent review of the adequacy of compensation arrangements under the carbon pricing mechanism is guaranteed.

"We welcome the news from Minister Combet that carbon price compensation already delivered through the social security and tax systems will remain in place. We are confident that the current arrangements are adequately compensating people for the modest impact of the carbon price on household costs.

However, today’s announcement of the deferral of further compensation highlights the need for a mechanism to allow independent review of the ongoing adequacy of the compensation package. We had argued for the annual review to be legislated, and to ensure that it was conducted independently, and based on verifiable evidence" said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Results from the first years of the carbon price in operation show that it is working – the carbon price has reduced emissions and this is good news for the community – especially for the poor who will be worst affected by climate change.

“It makes economic sense for aspects of the compensation package to be reviewed in light of changes to the price of carbon, but this needs to be done through an independent and accountable review process.

“At the same time, investment in renewable energy and clean technology, and assistance to business and households to become more energy efficient remains important – energy efficiency assistance to low income households is an important way of  reducing energy costs for those households and at the same time reduces emissions.

"It's critical that the carbon package remain fair and equitable. ACOSS has long argued that people on the lowest income levels will be impacted first and worst by the effects of climate change, but these individuals also have the greatest need for support.

"It is essential that the ongoing adequacy of compensation be assured. This can only be done through legislation," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Family payments need ‘overhaul’ but not by failing those most in need

7 May 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service has strongly opposed the federal Government decision not to go ahead with a family benefits increase that was specifically targeted at struggling families who need it most. 

"We understand the current pressures on the Budget but quite frankly there are other more important areas where savings can be found rather than going back on a promise that would greatly assist around a million of our nation's lowest earning families," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"The family payment system is the bulwark against child poverty in Australia, which is growing despite two decades of unprecedented growth. We know that 2.2 million people are currently living in poverty, including some 575,000 children. If it wasn't for our family payments system the situation would undoubtedly be much worse.

"It is important to note that the adequacy of family payments has fallen behind due to loss of full indexation since 2009 and we believe the measure to provide low income families around $600 extra a year would go some way to improving that.

"Of course, we agree that the current fiscal environment requires us to question our tax and transfer payments. We do need to explore where assistance from government needs to be universal and when it needs to be better targeted.<

"That's why we had recommended that the government focus on better targeting the family payment system, especially Family Tax Benefits B so we can get that assistance to families that really do need it.

"In our Budget submission we've argued for an urgent restructure of family payments, which would see the money from things like the Baby Bonus and the Schoolkids Bonus go back into higher payments so we get that balance right.

"We think this decision that appears to have been confirmed today will make that task all the more difficult.

"We want to reiterate our call for the government to be courageous and shut down tax loopholes and wasteful spending at the top end. We have identified around $6 billion in savings from tax avoidance measures such as the use of private ‘discretionary' trusts and capital gains, International companies reducing tax paid in Australia, and the churning income through super accounts to avoid taxes on wages.

"We've also put forward proposals to tackle poorly targeted spending programs and tax breaks such as the health insurance rebate for ancillary or ‘extras' cover not related to hospital care; the 20% tax-break for medical ‘gap fees' exceeding $2,060 a year; and the Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax Offset.

"Budgets are about government priorities and this is where governments should be focusing their attention, not going after measures that assist families that need the greatest assistance and actually help reduce poverty in our country," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

ACOSS Budget Priority Statement 2013

ACOSS applauds the putting aside of politics for worthy NDIS

2 May 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today praised Federal political leaders for ensuring that the crucial national disability insurance scheme comes to fruition through funding.

ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said, "Yesterday's historic announcement by the Prime Minister of a modest levy to fund Disability Care Australia has the widespread support of the community. It was essential that we lock in a funding stream to support this scheme that is so important to ensuring that people with disability are supported to have social and economically contributing lives.

"Today's announcement by the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, of his support for the levy is a further welcome sign of the Opposition's ongoing commitment to the scheme. With the Greens and Independents already on the record, we can congratulate our Federal leaders on this non-partisan show of support for such a crucial reform.

"Increasing the Medicare Levy by this modest amount gets the funding ball rolling to secure the much needed scheme. It is pleasing to see that all sides of politics have gone beyond politics on such an important issue.

"We congratulate the Prime Minister for confirming that she will bring to Parliament the necessary legislation to make this happen. This is indeed a historic day in Australian politics and in the lives of people with disability," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Prominent Australians support increase to Newstart in May Budget

30 April 2013

More than forty prominent Australians and leading heads of charities, unions, and national community welfare organisations, have united to sign an Open Letter to the Federal Government, calling for an increase in income support allowance payments in the May Budget.

The Open Letter, organised by the Australian Council of Social Service, calls on the Australian Government to increase the single rate of Newstart and other allowances and index these payments to wages, to address growing poverty in Australia.

"There is widespread concern among people from all quarters in our community that keeping Allowance payments like Newstart so low doesn't help people into work, but merely drives them further into misery," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"This only makes life even harder for people already struggling to lift themselves up and more fully participate in our society through paid work. It is simply unacceptable that Newstart hasn't been increased in real terms for nearly 20 years.

"We all understand the current budgetary constraints, however, this must be a priority in the coming Budget. We can afford the $1.8 billion. In fact we cannot afford not to do it.

"At present 2.2 million people live below the poverty line in Australia, including 575,000 children. The highest risk groups are people who are out of paid work and those on low income support payments.

"Increasing Newstart by $50 a week will help lift over one million people out of this despairing situation, and provide a welcome stimulus to the economy, because every single cent will be spent on mere survival.

"We urge the federal government to listen to this loud call from across the community and take the courageous step last taken by Paul Keating in 1994, and finally ensure an increase in the payments of some of most disadvantaged people in our community," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

DOWNLOAD OPEN LETTER

To understand how this effects people's lives watch this video: Tony and Geraldine's account of life on just $35 a day

Find out more about the $35 a day is not enough! campaign

Signatories to Open Letter

Mick Gooda
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO
Professor of Law, Australian Catholic University

Julian Burnside AO QC
Australian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate, and author

Jane Caro,
Author and media commentator

Eva Cox AO
Professorial Fellow, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, UTS

Dr David Morawetz
Founder and Director, Social Justice Fund

Miriam Lyons
Public policy advocate and social commentator

Les Malezer
Co-chair, National Congress of Australia's First Peoples

Ged Kearney
President. Australian Council of Trade Unions

Major Kelvin Alley
National Secretary, The Salvation Army National Secretariat

Matthew Bowden
Co-Chief Executive Officer, People with Disability Australia Incorporated

Alison Brook
National Executive Officer, Relationships Australia

Kasy Chambers
Executive Director, Anglicare Australia

Narelle Clay AM
Chairperson, Homelessness Australia

Tim Costello
Chief Executive Officer, World Vision Australia

Carol Croce
Executive Director, Community Housing Federation of Australia

Andrew Cummings
Executive Director, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition

Dr John Falzon
CEO, St Vincent de Paul Society

Carolyn Frohmader
Executive Director, Women with Disabilities Australia

Angelo Gavrielatos,
Federal President, Australian Education Union

Dr Cassandra Goldie
CEO, Australian Council of Social Service

Steve Hackett
Executive Director, Family Relationships Services Australia

Lesley Hall
CEO, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Toby Hall
CEO, Mission Australia

Lin Hatfield Dodds,
National Director, UnitingCare Australia

Prof Karen Healy
President, Australian Association of Social Workers

John Heath
CEO, SANE Australia

Anne Hollonds
CEO, Benevolent Society

Rob Lake,
Executive Director, Australian Federation of Aids Organisations

Caroline Lambert,
Executive Officer, YWCA Australia

Claerwen Little
Director, UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families

Cedric Manen
Chair, Settlement Council of Australia

Ron Mell
Chief Executive Officer, YMCA AUSTRALIA

Michael Moore
CEO, Public Health Association of Australia

Paul O'Callaghan
Executive Director, Catholic Social Services Australia

Maree O'Halloran AM
President, National Welfare Rights Network

Adrian Pisarski
Executive Officer, Queensland Shelter Inc. Chair, National Shelter

Marc Purcell
Executive Director, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)

Frank Quinlan
CEO, Mental Health Council of Australia

Bishop Christopher Saunders
Chairman, Australian Catholic Social Justice Council

Michael Smith
National Convenor, National Association of Community Legal Centres Inc

Louise Tarrant
National Secretary, United Voice

Lee Thomas
President, Australian Nursing Federation

David Thompson
CEO, Jobs Australia

Rebecca Vassarotti
Executive Director, YWCA Canberra

Jo Watson
Executive Director, National Association of People with HIV Australia

Lack of affordable housing report highlights desperate plight of people surviving on Newstart

29 April 2013

Human rights experts to consider international action

A disturbing report released today highlights that people struggling to survive on Newstart face an impossible task of affording decent housing, and backs the call for an increase to the single rate of Newstart Allowance.

The 2013 Anglicare Australia Rental Affordability Snapshot report found that just 13 properties of 56,414 rental properties surveyed across Australia were affordable for anyone on the Newstart or other allowances. With competition for low cost housing intense, people who are unemployed have no chance.

"This is a distressing finding and highlights the need for more adequate support for disadvantaged groups in our community, particularly those on the lowest of payments. As Anglicare is the latest to report, the single rate of Newstart must be lifted by $50 a week in the May federal Budget. Newstart hasn't been increased in nearly 20 years and simply is not keeping up with community cost of living, especial rental prices," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

At a Public Seminar to be held today in Sydney, human rights experts will discuss what action can be taken to place pressure on the Australian parliament to finally increase the single rate of Newstart and other allowances. There is widespread concern, both nationally and internationally about the unbearably low rate of Newstart, including from the OECD, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, three Australian Parliamentary Committees, numerous reports from leading welfare agencies and academics, and leading business groups, including most recently, Mr Tony Shephard, the President of the Business Council of Australia, at his recent National Press Club speech.

Dr Goldie said, "With more single parents and more people with disability being forced onto Newstart as a result of recent social security changes, the case for an increase is compelling".

"At just $35 a day, people cannot survive on Newstart with any dignity, including being able to afford a roof over their head. An increase in Newstart is a vital investment in supporting people back into paid work. The Anglicare Report is another distressing example that adds to the overwhelming evidence that urgent action is required." 

Media Enquiries: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Seminar: Realising the Human Right to Social Security: An Australian Story Unfolding
Date: 1 - 2pm Monday, April 29, 2013
Venue: Staff Common Room, Level 2, UNSW Law (F8) UNSW

Attendance is free and media are invited - Enquiries: 02 9385 1803

Speakers:
Beth Goldblatt - Beth is a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Human Rights Centre, UNSW.
Dr Cassandra Goldie - CEO, Australian Council of Social Service
Gerard Thomas - Media and Policy Officer, Welfare Rights Centre

The Seminar is a joint event between the Australian Human Rights Centre and ACOSS.

Raising Newstart for the first time in 20 years a legacy for 43rd Parliament: ACOSS

19 April 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today said raising the single rate of Newstart Allowance could be the greatest legacy of the 43rd Parliament if the Federal Government takes the courageous step for the first time in 20 years.

"The Hawke-Keating government was the last government brave enough to increase unemployment benefits in 1994, now this government has the chance before the federal election to leave a lasting legacy," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie. "The government would certainly have the support of the wider community, including the entire community welfare sector, unions, business, the Organisation for Economic Co-ordination and Development, and its own Henry Tax Review panel."

Speaking at the launch of the peak community welfare body's 2013 Budget submission today, Dr Goldie said, "Increasing the abysmally low base rate of Allowance payments by $50 a week is the single most important thing this government could do in the immediate term to lift more than one million people out of worsening poverty in Australia.

"This is not rocket science and it is completely fundable. We estimate it would cost about $800 million dollars this year to increase the payments, including indexation, and $1.8 billion in 2014-15.

"We understand the current pressures on the Budget, however, this is doable, especially if the Government tackled the current waste in the Budget in the form of tax avoidance and poorly targeted spending programs and tax breaks. We've identified around $6 billion dollars in savings, some of which could be used to fund this must needed increase.

"We are calling on the government to clamp down on things like the use of private ‘discretionary' trusts and capital gains. We are also proposing the scrapping of the health insurance rebate for ancillary or ‘extras' cover, the Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offset, and non-superannuation termination payments, which are wasteful measures.

"We are pleased the Federal Government has capped the deductions for education expenses and moved to make the superannuation system fairer. However it appears they have backtracked on the opportunity for more far-reaching reform of the retirement savings system, particularly the churning of income through super accounts to avoid taxes on wages.

"Now is the time for courageous decisions to be made in the national interest if we are to move towards creating a more sustainable tax base to fund the important social programs and services we all want into the future for our aging population.

"In his speech at the National Press Club this week, the President of the Business Council of Australia, Tony Shepherd, declared that our nation is at the crossroads and urged our political leaders to be brave and be prepared to lose their jobs to lift national prosperity. ACOSS supports those sentiments, especially the recognition that we need to do more as a country to ensure the benefits of that social progress are felt by all.

"With 2.2 million people, including 1 in 6 children living below the poverty line, we were pleased to hear the strong statement from Mr Shepherd that income support allowances need to ensure people without paid work are able to ‘live in dignity'. He is the latest in long line of prominent people speaking out in support of lifting the $35 a day Newstart payment.

"Now is the time for our federal leaders to listen to this widespread call and show this courage by prioritising an urgent increase in the single rate of Newstart Allowance in the May federal Budget," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

DOWN LOAD ACOSS Budget Statement

SUMMARY

ACOSS submission finds $6b in savings and $5b in spending for the most immediate needs.

Key ACOSS asks:
• Increasing Newstart and other Allowances by $50 and indexing payments
• Doubling number of wage subsidies very long term unemployed to 20,000 places per year and boosting job assistance
• Establish an Affordable Housing Growth Fund to expand the stock of affordable housing
• Increase the maximum rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 30% (around $15 per week) to assist people on low incomes to meet rising rental costs
• Invest in capacity for community health services to engage with key health policies, including the establishment of Medicare Locals and the Partners in Recovery framework
• Urgent Investment in the capacity of the community sector to deliver services and engage in national industry initiatives that will strengthen the third sectors ability to meet the crucial social demands of the future
• And the establishment of a Community Sector Adaptation Fund to support climate change adaptation and extreme weather preparedness of the community sector.

Key ACOSS Budget savings: $6b in 2014-15

Curb income tax avoidance
• The use of private ‘discretionary' trusts
• Capital gains - income from sale of assets such as property and shares
• International companies reducing tax paid in Australia
• Churning income through super accounts to avoid taxes on wages

Tackle poorly targeted spending programs and tax breaks
• Health insurance rebate for ancillary or ‘extras' cover not related to hospital care
• The 20% tax-break for medical ‘gap fees' exceeding $2,060 a year
• Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax Offset
• Deduction for education expenses - already announced.
• Non superannuation termination payments

Revenue Neutral measures
• Restructure Family Tax Benefits - Target families at risk of poverty and simplify the family payments system - review Baby Bonus and School Kids Bonus and better target through higher Family Tax Benefit Part A to low and middle income families.
• Remove Child Care Rebate - Use saving to introduce a universal minimum level of Child Care Benefit - the maximum rate of Child Care Benefit should be increased to better reflect child care needs, reasonable costs and capacity to pay. This would increase subsidies for low and middle income families facing the highest costs and reduce the regressivity of present subsidies for 'gap fees'.

NSW Government must reverse cuts to crucial Welfare Rights service

18 April 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today called on the New South Wales Government to reverse a decision to the cut funding for the Welfare Rights Centre, which provides vital support for some of the most vulnerable people and families throughout NSW. 

"The decision by the NSW Department of Community Services is short-sighted as a cost cutting measure, because cutting funding that prevents homelessness, poverty and empowers peoples rights will end up costing us more in the end," Said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie. 

"The Welfare Rights Centre provides crucial advise and support for people in dealing with the federal bureaucracy over income support. It's work leads to poor decisions by Centrelink to be overturned each year so that people have enough income to stabilise their lives, find paid employment and strengthen their families.

"Although social security and family assistance are Commonwealth areas, states like NSW get enormous value and benefits. For instance, approximately $2 million of debt is prevented or waived annually by the Centre's caseworker interventions.

"Welfare Rights' work is so important is assisting some of the most disadvantaged families and young people, people with disabilities, older people and unemployed people. Some of their casework prevents the removal of children, and their work relieves pressures on other agencies.

"There is no alternate provider of this specialist service in NSW and it would be a travesty if these cuts were to proceed.

"At the end of the day tackling poverty is a federal and state responsibility. NSW cannot simply relinquish that responsibility to the Federal Government in an area that clearly crosses that federal-state divide.

"We ask the NSW Community Services Minister Pru Goward to reconsider her department's decision and reinstate this important funding. In this way she would send a strong message of her state's commitment to sharing responsibility for supporting people needing specialist assistance in an area that's fundamental to their daily lives.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

ACOSS welcomes BCA call for long term plan and strong relationship with community sector

17 April 2013

ACOSS has today welcomed the BCA call for long term policy and planning, and the clear recognition of the role of the community sector working with business in the interests of strong economic as well as social policy in Australia.

Speaking from the National Press Club in Canberra following the speech by Business Council of Australia President Tony Shepherd, ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said: "We welcome the BCA's recognition of the importance of the compact between government, the non-government sector and business, alongside the wider community, to support social and economic progress.

"Equally important is the recognition that we need to do more as a country to ensure the benefits of that social progress are felt by all. With 2.2 million people, including 1 in 6 children living below the poverty line, we are particularly pleased to hear the strong statement from Mr Shepherd that income support allowances need to ensure people without paid work are able to ‘live in dignity'. We also agree that we need ‘employment services that get them back to work quickly so they don't fall into long-term, entrenched unemployment'.

"It is critical that we ensure the revenue base to support these objectives, and a fair, sustainable tax base must be the first order for this priority. For this reason we have viewed the Henry Tax review as the best blueprint and have consistently called for many of the recommendations to be acted on.

"We share many of the objectives outlined today, including the call for a long-term plan on population and urban and regional infrastructure, ‘that fully integrate land use, transport, social infrastructure and access to natural resources'.

"We also want to see improved gender representation in senior leadership and Board roles, an issue ACOSS has been working to address in the community sector. Similarly, we are working towards appropriate and effective regulation to ensure accountability for our activities and that they are effective in supporting the communities who rely upon them.

‘We agree that we must commit with courage to having the key debates, however difficult, so that we can progress our efforts to lift our social and economic outcomes. whilst we don't agree with all of the proposals outlined today in their entirety, ACOSS is firmly committed to building a strong relationship with the business community to form a consensus on important issues in the national interest.

"ACOSS has long worked to ensure that our social policy agenda is accompanied by the economic policies and strong, sustainable tax base to sustain them. Our work with the business community is an important part of this agenda and we look forward to continuing this work, including through our alliance with the BCA and ACTU to support improved employment prospects in the longer term," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Joint Statement on ACOSS, ACTU and BCA Cooperation - 3 December 2012
Download the joint statement: Opportunity for All [PDF]

People at heightened risk because community groups overlooked in disaster management

11 April 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today released extensive new research showing the ability of communities to respond to natural disasters is being severely weakened by the exclusion of community based organisations from disaster management planning.

The research project, ‘Extreme Weather, Climate Change and the Community Sector - Risks and Adaptations', is a world first review of the preparedness of community service organisations that provide critical social services and support to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the community.

"A major finding was that despite the crucial role locally based organisations play in supporting and rebuilding people's lives during disasters like bushfires and floods - they are not included in official emergency response planning and are critically under-resourced to participate effectively," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"The report highlights the serious consequences, especially for people who rely on social services to meet basic needs, if vital service agencies are not able to cope with increasing extreme events.

"One research participant in the research bluntly told us that clients would die if their organisation could not provide services because they will not be able to eat, use shower and toilet facilities or get out of bed without the assistance that their organisation provides.

"Another example provided demonstrates the critical consequences of service failure in rural and remote areas, with an organisation that provides high security accommodation for women and children at immediate risk from domestic and family violence telling us: 'We are the only service of its type for 1500 km. Women's and children's safety in the region would be extremely compromised'.

Dr Karl Mallon the project's principal investigator, stated, "Our research indicates that one week after an extreme weather event 50% of community service organisations that sustain serious disruption to their premises or utilities would still be out of operation."

He said, "This research confirms what we have seen recently in the USA and Europe, that highly vulnerable groups like the elderly and people with disabilities are being left to fend for themselves for days and even weeks after a disaster because the community organisations that normally tend to them have themselves been crippled. Therein lies the key to the solution, to protect vulnerable people from worsening extreme events society must prepare the community sector."

Yve Earnshaw from the Dunalley Tasman Neighbourhood House in Tasmania joined ACOSS at the Senate hearing to confirm the report findings through her recent experience in the devastating Tasmanian bushfires. Ms Earnshaw said, "As a community organisation with extensive local knowledge and expertise, we established our two centres as free public phone and internet centres and in Dunalley as a temporary health service facility for stranded people during the fires. We have had to fund the extra financial costs entirely from our own financial reserves. Three months on from the devastating fires, we are still employing additional staff to meet increased demand for community services and to run fire recovery programs, without yet receiving any promised additional funding to meet the associated costs."

Dr Goldie told today's Inquiry that the community sector also has the solutions and presented the 12 core recommendations from the report to the Senate Committee. They cover resourcing and funding mechanisms, building sector preparedness and resilience, and sharing risks within the sector, with government and with the private sector and through insurance and collaboration.

Dr Goldie stated, "This research has come to light on our watch. It is incumbent on us all, in government, the emergency services and the community to work together to fix this problem. No modern wealthy country can conscionably leave its most vulnerable to the ravages of natural disasters and extreme weather events. We must now collaborate to ensure community service organisations are fully prepared and a formal part of the solution- anything less would be negligent."

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

DOWNLOAD REPORT: Adapting the Community Sector for Climate Extremes from the NCCARF website.

About the research:
The ACOSS research was led by Dr Karl Mallon of Climate Risk, an expert on weather and climate impacts for infrastructure and insurance, and funded by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF).

Key Recommendations:
The report identifies a series of recommendations about the resources and action required to prepare and adapt community service organisations - and the community service sector broadly - to climate change and extreme weather impacts:

1. The Commonwealth should establish a Community Sector Adaptation Fund to support capacity and resilience building projects for CSOs and their clients.

2. Contracts for service delivery must provide greater flexibility to CSOs and enable them to participate effectively in disaster response and recovery efforts.

3. Contracts for service delivery must ensure timely compensation for their contributions to response and recovery efforts; and

4. Contracts for service delivery must ensure they are not penalised for failing to meet contractual obligations due to their participation in disaster response and recovery.

5. Raise awareness about the serious risks to its service delivery and to people experiencing poverty and inequality from climate change and worsening extreme weather impacts;

6. Undertake climate change and extreme weather risks assessments and develop and implement disaster management and service continuity plans; and

7. Invest in climate change and extreme weather preparedness and response training for staff and volunteers engaged in direct service provision as well as management and administrative roles.

The community services sector must be resourced and supported to develop:

8. A set of easily accessible, practical adaptation and preparedness tools that meet the needs of a broad spectrum of community service organisations and can be implemented and institutionalised within their current operational arrangements;

9. Adaptation and preparedness benchmarks specific to community service provision that enable organisations, their funding agencies and insurers to plot progress towards risk reduction, resilience and adaptive capacity; and

10. Sector level initiatives to adapt CSOs and the sector as a whole that ensure inclusiveness and recognise the particular barriers faced by small and medium-sized organisations to engage in risk assessment, adaptation planning and implementation.

11. In partnership with the insurance sector, national and state sector peaks must develop affordable, sector-specific insurance packages that specifically address the climate change and extreme weather risks identified in this report;

12. The sector must be supported to build on existing relationships and to develop new links and partnerships with peer organisations, including those that are experienced in climate change adaptation and emergency management, as well as non-traditional partners such as local councils, state government departments of environment and climate change, emergency services and utilities in order to create strong adaptation and preparedness ‘networks' at the local level; and

13. Formal federal, state and local government recognition of the critical role the community services sector can and does play in climate change adaptation and emergency management with commensurate resources to facilitate and support its effective participation in planning, response and recovery at all levels.

Super industry flexes its muscle at expense of ordinary people: ACOSS

5 April 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service has supported changes announced today to reform the superannuation tax concession system, but expressed major disappointment that it does not go anywhere near making the system fair and sustainable into the future.

"Whilst we obviously welcome these improvements, the reality is the changes announced today by the federal Government amount to a mere tinkering at the edges of a system that is grossly skewed in favour of people on the highest incomes," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Capping tax exemptions on superannuation earnings supporting pensions and annuities at $100,000 will only affect people with super assets of more than $2 million. They will still only pay a rate of 15 per cent tax on their super savings, making savings of just $350 million over the next four years.

"This is a drop in the ocean of unfair super tax arrangements that are expected to be valued at $44.8 billion by 2014-15. It is less than half the money the Government took away from single parents in the last Budget, who are likely to have little hope of securing adequate retirement savings.

"We agree with the Treasurer asking, ‘Why should someone who has millions of dollars in a superannuation account pay no tax on their earnings'. But why are they able to pay 15 per cent tax while someone on $80,000 a year pays a marginal tax rate of 37 cents in the dollar on every additional dollar they earn?

"Why should we continue to allow people on the highest incomes to park more and more of their earnings in super accounts at discounted marginal tax rates?

"We need deep reform to make our superannuation system work for everyone, not simply continue the merry go round of changes at the margins. Progressive tax reform is not a new idea. The Henry Tax Panel called for reform four years ago.

"This cannot be put on the policy never-never for fear of a predictable backlash from vested interest groups. The fact is real reform requires a redistribution of breaks to people who need them most - low and middle income earners.

"We congratulate the Government on the proposal for a Council of Superannuation Custodians. Whom it represents will be the most critical factor in its success. We need to make sure the voices and interests of low and middle income people are at the centre of these policy debates. Sadly over the last weeks, once again, those voices have been drowned out by those who are well-resourced.

"ACOSS has long argued for major reforms that would shut down obvious super tax loopholes, and boost the savings of people on low and middle incomes, rather than those who are already secure.

"Under our revenue neutral proposals, based on the Henry proposals, the tax concession system would be turned right side up and ensure our retirement savings system supports the great majority of people trying to secure their post work futures, as well as reduce the overall reliance on the Aged Pension which at the present course is unsustainable. We made these proposals during the 2011 Tax Forum and have consistently urged their adoption throughout the debate since then," Dr Goldie said.

Media contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Find out more about the ACOSS Superannuation proposals

Stop the piecemeal changes to make much-needed and lasting Superannuation reform

28 March 2013

Comments this week suggesting that households on $250,000 annual income are struggling as much as anyone else have provided a less than useful contribution to the debate about Australia’s superannuation system, says the Australian Council of Social Service.

ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said, ‘These comments were unhelpful because they ignore the fact that the average wage in Australia is around $70,000, and 2,265,000 people – including  575,000 children - are struggling to survive below the poverty line of a paltry $39,104 for a family. But the real issue is that superannuation is costing Australia billions of dollars, while its benefits go disproportionately to high earners at the exclusion of those on low incomes. That’s why we need a revenue-neutral restructure of the current unfair and wasteful tax breaks for superannuation contributions.

‘The reality is we need deeper reform to make our superannuation system work for everyone. We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand and deny the need for such reform. It's time to stop the merry go round of changes at the margins and reform superannuation properly.

‘In the coming Federal Budget, ACOSS has called for tax concessions on superannuation contributions to be restructured to make the system fairer and simpler, with tax breaks being redirected to those who need them most – low and middle income earners.

‘This is simply a modification of the system advocated by the Henry Review and would be much simpler than the present mess that is just inequitable. Its main purpose would be to make superannuation fairer and more sustainable, not to save the Government money in the short term. Yet even if the reform was revenue neutral, it would yield fiscal savings because future age pension costs would be reduced. The bottom line is that unlike many attempts at reform in the past, this one would “stick” because at least three quarters of wage earners would be better off.

Fast facts on superannuation:

•     Super tax concessions are currently skewed heavily in favour of high income earners

•     In 2015-16, spending on super tax concessions is expected to overtake spending on the Age Pension.

•     The cost of superannuation tax concessions will increase from $31.8 billion in 2012-2013 to $44.8 billion by 2015-15.

•     Superannuation tax concessions became the biggest tax expenditure in 2012-2013, exceeding the cost of tax concessions for owner-occupied housing for the first time:

       o   Superannuation tax breaks are by far Australia’s largest tax expenditure - estimated by Treasury to cost $32 billion annually, about the same as the age pension.

       o   Half of this total cost, $16 billion, is ‘spent’ to subsidise contributions to superannuation funds, especially those made by employers. Those contributions are taxed at a flat rate of 15% instead of the individual’s marginal tax rate. As a result it is strongly biased towards those on the top marginal tax rate, who save over 30 cents in tax for every dollar contributed to super by their employer compared to no tax saving at all for those on the lowest wages.

       o   We estimate that half the $16 billion spent on this tax break in 2007 went to the top 12% of taxpayers.

•     Tax concessions for superannuation contributions should be restructured to make the system fairer and simpler:

o   Implement a scheme along the lines of that proposed by the Henry Report where employer contributions are taxed at the individual’s marginal rate before they are deposited into the fund, and this is offset in full or in part by a rebate on all contributions up to an annual cap. This revenue-neutral reform could roughly double the gains in retirement incomes for low income earners from higher compulsory contributions. It would cap poorly targeted tax breaks for the top 20% of taxpayers, who currently receive half of the benefits of $16 billion in annual tax concessions for superannuation contributions.

       o   The Government’s proposal to increase the annual cap for contributions that attract a tax break from $25,000 to $50,000 for individuals over 54 should not proceed as this would mainly benefit taxpayers who are already able to secure their retirement future.

       o   These reforms would help to curb the current avoidance of personal income tax through ‘churning’ income through superannuation funds, by reducing the caps for concessional contributions by the amount of any benefit paid during that year ($500 million in 2014-15).

See Opinion piece by ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie: Super breaks inefficient and unfair: tinkering won’t help

First Published in The Age March 29, 2013

ACOSS National Conference Newstart Resolution

26 March 2013

More than 400 participants of the 2013 ACOSS National Conference have today passed a resolution calling on the federal parliament of Australia to urgently legislate for a $50 increase in the single rate of Newstart and other low paying allowances.

The resolution reads:

‘Participants of the 2013 ACOSS National Conference unanimously call on the federal parliament of Australia to urgently legislate for a $50 increase in the single rate of Newstart and other low paying allowances.

Allowance payments also need to be indexed to wages as opposed the CPI.

This must be included in this May Budget before the federal election if we are to prevent worsening levels of poverty in our country.

Already one in eight people are living in poverty in Australia, including one in six children.

This is an indictment on our nation and it's in our national interest to take immediate steps to redress this.'

Day 2 of the ACOSS National Conference 2013 has just begun in Adelaide (9.30am Tuesday March 26,2013).

Live on A-PAC Channel 648, participate on Twitter #ACOSS2013

Keynote Address - Julia Slay, Senior Researcher and Coordinator of Social Policy, New Economic Foundation, United Kingdom

Community engagement - what can we learn from the UK?
• The Hon. Kevin Andrews MP - Shadow Minister for Housing, Families and Human Services
• Miriam Lyons - Executive Director, Centre for Policy Development
• Julia Slay - Senior Research Officer, New Economic Foundation, UK

Elephant in the room: Australia's affordable housing crisis
• The Hon. Mark Butler - Minister for Housing and Homelessness and Social Inclusion
• Senator Marise Payne - Opposition spokesperson on Housing and Homelessness
• Senator Scott Ludlam - Senator for Western Australia, The Australian Greens

Other conference sessions today include:
• Thongs, BBQs, Human Rights? What the National Children's Commissioner really means for young people
• Women's experiences of poverty
• Power to the people - making energy affordable in a fast changing market
• Income management: what do we know now?
• Extreme weather, climate change and the community sector
• Community based health care in a post-reform era
• Putting community at the heart of Election 2013

Media contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

United call for Newstart increase at ACOSS National Conference

25 March 2013

Australia's community welfare sector gathering in Adelaide today will make a united call for a $50 increase in the single Newstart Allowance payment in this year's federal Budget.

ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie will tell the peak body's National Conference that the much needed increase is urgent and must be funded in this last Budget before the federal election if we are serious about dealing with the worsening level of poverty in our country.

Dr Goldie will tell the gathering that, "One in eight people are living in poverty in Australia, including one in six children - this is an indictment on our nation."

"People who are out of paid work and on the lowest payments are among those at highest risk. The Newstart payment continues to fall further behind pensions because it's indexed only to the Consumer Price Index instead of wages.

"In last week's indexation increases people on the Aged Pension received an $18 a week increase whereas people on Newstart only received a $2 a week increase. The single rate of Newstart remains $35 a day.

"The difference between the payments is now $150. Newstart hasn't been increased in nearly 20 years. Now is the time to correct this record.

"In recent years we've seen changes to tighten eligibility for the Disability Support Pension force as many as 70,000 more people with disability onto the low Newstart payment. And recently more than 80,000 single parents and their children were dropped to the same payment and lose between $60-$100 a week.

"This get tough approach to the vulnerable members of our community has simply got to stop.

"The parliament has the most compelling responsibility to act now and urgently - business, unions, economics and tax experts, employment experts as well three parliamentary committees, the OECD and UN monitors all agree.

"What more evidence do we need? How many more people need to suffer?" Dr Goldie will say.

Strong supporters of the campaign Senators Doug Cameron and Rachel Siewert will speak at the conference. Delegates will also hear the real life stories of people trying to survive on the low payment as they look for work.

Media contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

ACOSS National Conference 2013 - start at 9am on Monday 25th March 2013 in Adelaide

Opening speeches:
Jay Weatherill, South Australian Premier
Jody Broun, Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples

Conference sessions today include:

• A New Start for income support payments in Australia
• Harsh reality: Life on income support in Australia
• Redesigning Australia's Employment Services System
• Pathways to employment through VET
• The Future of Australia's Retirement Income
• How will the NDIS work?
• Gender matters: How far have our workplaces come?
• Unmet need: Access to Justice
• Working towards better partnerships in the NT
• "Racism. It stops with me." Thinking, speaking and acting to stop racism in Australia

Live on A-PAC Channel 648, participate on Twitter #ACOSS2013

Wake up call for the nation: More than 620, 000 people with disability living in poverty

22 March 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service has today released new figures showing 620, 600 people with disability in Australia are living below the conservative, internationally accepted poverty line used to measure financial hardship in wealthy countries.

"ACOSS welcomes the passage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme legislation through federal Parliament yesterday. We congratulate the across the board political support for this vitally important reform that will make a real difference to the lives of people with disabilities," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"The new research forms part of the Poverty in Australia report released in October 2012 that showed that 2,265,000 people are living in poverty in Australia. Data for the number of people living in poverty with disability was not available in time for that report.

"This figure should be cause for great concern. It shows that 27.4% of people with disability are currently living below the poverty line of 50% of median household income," Dr Goldie said.

"This means that people with disability - or those with a ‘core activity restriction' as defined in the Australian Bureau of Statistics income survey - are more than twice as likely to be in poverty than other people in our country. This compares with 12.8% of the overall population living in poverty, including 17.3% of children. It's simply not good enough. We can and must do better.

"When you take the 60% poverty line used by the UK and other European countries, the situation is even more dire, pushing that figure to 44.5% or one million people.

"The lack of real employment opportunities is a main factor for the above-average risk of poverty. In 2009 only 54% people with a ‘core activity restriction' were employed compared to 83% of people generally of working age.

"We also know that many people with disabilities rely on social security payments,such as the Newstart Allowance and the Disability Support Pension, as their main income source. Since the introduction of Welfare to Work policies in 2006, an increasing number of people assessed as having a ‘partial work capacity' (ability to work part time) have been placed on the lower Newstart Allowance rather than the Disability Support Pension.

"Disturbingly, the most recent changes to the Disability Support Pension will likely have further increased the number of people forced to live on Newstart, since this report. The findings by the National Welfare Rights Network that successful claims of the Disability Support Pension have plummeted from one in three, to just one in every two claims in 2011-12 is extremely disturbing.

"This has meant that over 67,000 people with disabilities have been pushed onto the lower-paying Newstart Allowance, which is $150 less per week. This change appears likely to be saving the Government at least a further $500 million per year.

"Currently, over 824,000 people with disabilities receive Disability Support Pension and more than 100,000 receive Newstart Allowance.

"This is yet more evidence of the urgent need to increase the grossly inadequate Newstart Allowance payment which hasn't been increased in real terms for nearly 20 years. People on this payment have to make do on just $35 a day which clearly isn't enough for anyone to live on, especially if you have added difficulties and costs associated with disability.

">"We need urgent action to address the inadequacy of income support payments for people with disability, including the single rate of Newstart Allowance, onto which more people will be reliant into the future.

"We also need a determined effort to lift languishing employment rates. Nationally, we have seen an alarming decline in participation rates, including within the Commonwealth Public Service. It's extremely disappointing that the employment levels of people with disability in the Australian Public Service has been going backwards over the last 20 years - from 5.8% in 1992 to 3.7% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2012.

"It is high time that we considered introduction of targets and quotas, to provide the incentives necessary to ensure equality of employment opportunities. The great productivity debate in Australia needs to have at its core how we ensure that people with diverse capabilities and backgrounds are fully enabled to participate in our workplaces, now and into the future.

"We also need a national commitment to reduce the rate of poverty in Australia, as part of our quest to lift our GDP growth. It is shameful that, despite two decades of strong economic growth, with Australia now one of the wealthiest countries in the world, we have so many people struggling.

"Our report is a wake up call for our nation and highlights that there is a long way to go for us to provide people living with disabilities the same opportunities to participate in society as the rest of us enjoy," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Poverty in Australia Report - Updated version 2013

Key Findings of Report:

• 2,265,000 people or 12.8% of all people living below the internationally accepted poverty line (50% of median household income)
• 575,000 children or 17.3% were living below the poverty line
• 620,600 people with a disability or 27.4% were living below the poverty line
• 63% of people in unemployed households were below the poverty line
• 25% of people in lone parent households were below the 50% poverty line
• 37% of people in households whose main income was social security were living below the poverty line
• 14% of women were below the poverty line compared to 12% of men
• 54% of people living in households below the poverty line were female compared to 46% male
• 26% of adults living in households below the 50% poverty line came from a non-English-speaking-country
• The level of poverty was higher (13.1%) outside capital cities than in capital cities (12.6%)
• The proportion of people in poverty rose by approximately a third of a percentage point from 2003 to 2010 but it is difficult to compare poverty levels over the long term due to changes in the various ABS surveys

Evidence is in: Government must now reverse single parent cuts and lift Newstart

21 March 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service is today calling on the federal Government to take immediate steps to reverse the damaging cuts to single parenting payments and increase the grossly inadequate Newstart Allowance following the release of the final report of a key Parliamentary Human Rights Committee.

ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie, says the report, released late yesterday evening, is historic. "As the first ever final report from this new Joint Committee on Human Rights, established by this Government, it is vital that the Government accedes to its recommendations, if we are to have any faith in this Committee process being an adequate method for protecting human rights in Australia."

"The Committee's report was unanimous and confirms the view of frontline groups and the entire community sector, that the decision to move more than 80,000 single parents onto the Newstart Allowance when their youngest child turns eight will ‘place additional stress on vulnerable families, without providing a correspondingly better outcome in terms of work prospects'.

"It's clear the decision was merely a budget saving measure that must now be overturned if we are to prevent already struggling single parents and their children falling deeper into poverty," said Dr Goldie.

"The Committee's report also shines the light on the complete inadequacy of the Newstart payment, which although out of the scope of the Committee's work, now places the onus on the government to either prove the payment is adequate or raise it for the first time in nearly 20 years.

"ACOSS supports the view of the Committee that the government adopt an official poverty line as previously recommended by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). It is unacceptable that as a nation we don't have an official measure of the level of poverty that would enable us to set targets and take measures to address the problem, nor have we set any measure of progress in poverty reduction. It should disturb as all that the rate of poverty in Australia - 1 in 8 people, and 1 in 6 children, is on the rise, despite twenty years of strong economic growth.

"In light of the Committee's concerns about lack of consultation and impact assessment with affected families, the absence of considered alternatives, and a monitoring mechanism to assess the impact of the changes, the only appropriate action now is for an immediate reversal of the cuts, and to ensure that Newstart and other allowances are adequate for the other 682,873 people who barely survive on them.

"Upon a request from ACOSS and other groups the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights recently wrote a strongly worded letter to the government raising serious concerns that the cuts may be a violation of several rights included under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Commonwealth Government has still not responded.

"Now the government's own Human Rights Committee says ‘The evidence suggests that the government has neglected to fully integrate human rights considerations into the development and implementation of these measures as required under the ICESCR'.

"It is not a good look for a country that has only just taken up a temporary seat at the UN Security Country to be breaching key international human rights obligations.

"We are calling on the government to do the right thing by single parents and their children and reinstate their payment. We also want to see the Government act on the Committee's recommendation for ‘a more concerted effort to address the question of adequacy' of Newstart Allowance. ACOSS and others have recommended a $50 increase to the single rate, in line with the Henry Review panel finding in 2010, and to link indexation to wages.

"This simply must happen in the upcoming Budget. It is extraordinary that, just yesterday, whilst people on the Aged Pension received $18 per week increase, people on Newstart only received a $2 a week increase. The growing gap between these payments, now $150 per week, is untenable." Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

See Report: 

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Examination of legislation in accordance with the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 Social Security Legislation Amendment (Fair Incentives to Work) Act 2012.

Tackle $6 billion in tax loopholes and Budget ‘waste’ to make room for priority programs

11 March 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today released proposals to cut tax loopholes and wasteful spending in the federal Budget worth almost $6 billion - that would help fund essential services and improve the budget bottom line.

Download ACOSS ‘Waste' Paper

"ACOSS accepts our nation faces a challenge to strengthen the fiscal base if we are to fund important programs we all want, such as adequate income support payments for people living below the poverty line, the National Disability Insurance System, better education and health outcomes and more affordable housing," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"We will not be able to meet this challenge if we remain hamstrung with poorly targeted and wasteful spending and generous tax breaks that mainly benefits people on higher incomes.

‘It's unfair that public subsidies for services such as the private health rebate for ancillary health care and the tax rebate for medical expenses go disproportionately to people on the highest incomes while people on low incomes avoid visiting the dentist because they can't afford to.

"Valuable public dollars should be targeted to assist people who need it the most, not people who have less need for government support.

"In this way we will be able to fund urgent measures like raising the Newstart unemployment payment by $50 a week for single people. This payment hasn't been increased in real terms for nearly 20 years. The evidence is in from the Henry Report and last year's Senate Inquiry that $35 a day is not enough to live on and seek employment. More delays in fixing this problem are unacceptable.

"Our expenditure saving and revenue proposals are in line with key Henry Tax Review recommendations and would make Australia's tax and social security system fairer, more efficient, and more sustainable as our ageing population increases the demands on Government to provide essential services.

"Obviously we will need to look for sustainable ways to generate revenue for our shared future, and Henry provides a good blueprint for some of the ways we can do this. ACOSS is also undertaking further work on how we should expand our tax base, including looking at tax investments for property speculation, which is inflating property prices and cost of living pressures that particularly impacts low income households. 

"Australia is not a high taxing country, as the 6th lowest in the OECD. If we want a decent safety net, and universal health education and dental services as well as the housing and infrastructure for now and future generations, we need a sustainable tax base. Now is the right time to implement these important tax reform changes that are long overdue," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Download ACOSS ‘Waste' Paper

Key Proposals to curb income tax avoidance
• The use of private ‘discretionary' trusts
• Capital gains - income from sale of assets such as property and shares
• International companies reducing tax paid in Australia
• Churning income through super accounts to avoid taxes on wages

Key proposals to tackle poorly targeted spending programs and tax breaks
• Health insurance rebate for ancillary or ‘extras' cover not related to hospital care
• The 20% tax-break for medical ‘gap fees' exceeding $2,060 a year
• Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax Offset
• Deduction for education expenses
• Non superannuation termination payments


ACOSS National Conference - March 25-26 in Adelaide
‘Community: The Heart of the Economy'

Not an either-or: Newstart must be lifted

7 March 2013

Peak community welfare groups and charities today restated their call for a $50 increase in Allowance payments such as Newstart in this year's Federal Budget as a fundamental requirement to help lift hundreds and thousands of people out of worsening poverty in Australia.

Media reports yesterday suggested the Government is considering a proposal to allow single parents and other people on the Newstart Allowance to keep more of their earnings before losing benefits, rather than increasing the Newstart payment itself. This is not an ‘either or' choice. While we need to allow people to keep more of the money they earn, we also need a more adequate base payment.

There should not be a trade-off or the central problem that current payment levels are driving people further into poverty and making it more difficult for people to find paid work will be missed. It is like filling potholes in a road when the road should be rebuilt.

The poverty experienced by people on these very low payments, including those parents who are unable to find any paid work, is real and must be addressed if we are going to make any difference in the worsening plight of people on allowance payments.

If the problem with Newstart Allowance isn't fixed then more and more people will suffer a loss of income as they are bumped down from the pension onto Newstart. The gap between the pension and Newstart Allowance for a single adult without children is $140. For single parents on Newstart it is $120 per week.

The evidence is clear that the inadequate $35 a day payment is having a devastating impact on people's lives. They are simply unable to keep a roof over their head, feed themselves, pay bills and look for work on a payment that hasn't been increased in real terms for nearly 20 years.

There's no doubt that increasing the amount people can keep before they start losing their payment is crucial, and this will help the hundreds and thousands of people already supplementing their income through part time and casual work. However this does nothing for the most disadvantaged people on unemployment benefits, especially those with disabilities, mature age people and single parents who are unable to find paid work.

There are currently over 100,000 on Newstart Allowance with a partial capacity to work, with significant disabilities. By 2014, one in five people on Newstart will have a partial capacity to work. Of the 789,976 on Newstart and Youth Allowance, 253,000 have been looking for work for more than two years, 250,000 are aged over 45, and 155,000 are aged over 50.

With one in five receiving the Newstart Allowance for more than five years, it can no longer be claimed that the Allowance is a ‘temporary' payment for people in between jobs.

We need a comprehensive approach to this issue if we are really going to make a difference to worsening poverty in Australia, and provide people with a hand up to participate in our society.

We are calling on the Federal Government to listen to the overwhelming body of evidence from parliamentary inquiries, countless reports from charities and community groups, unions and business groups, and its own Social Inclusion Board and Henry Tax Review panel. 

Signatories to this statement:
Australian Council of Social Service 
Anglicare Australia 
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
Australian Youth Affairs Coalition 
Catholic Social Services Australia 
COTA Australia 
Financial Counselling Australia 
Homelessness Australia 
Jobs Australia 
National Council of Single Mothers and their Children 
National Welfare Rights Network 
St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia 
The Benevolent Society 
The Salvation Army 
The Smith Family 

Media Contacts:
Fernando de Freitas (ACOSS) - 0419 626 155
Roland Manderson (Anglicare Australia) - 0412 241 379
Stephen Gianni (Australian Federation of Disability Organisations) - 0417 589 373
Andrew Cummings (Australian Youth Affairs Coalition) - 0435 146 979
Jackie Brady (Catholic Social Services Australia) - 0417 220 779
Ian Yates (COTA Australia) - 0418 835 439
Fiona Guthrie (Financial Counselling Australia) - 07 3004 6911
Nicole Lawder (Homelessness Australia) - 02 6247 7744
David Thompson (Jobs Australia) - 0419 527753
Terese Edwards (National Council of Single Mothers and their Children) - 0439 211 493
Gerard Thomas (National Welfare Rights Network) - 0425 296 882
Colleen O'Sullivan (St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia) - 0400 845 492
Carolin Wenzel (The Benevolent Society) - 0411 766 682
Brad Halse (The Salvation Army) - 0417 095 989 
Lisa O'Brien (The Smith Family) - 02 9085 7222

For more information: $35 a day is not enough!

UN asks Australian Government to explain violation of single parents’ rights

4 March 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today called on the Australian Government to detail its response to a United Nations request for it to explain the decision to cut the payments of over 80,000 single parent families.

The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights and Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice has written to the Australian Government about the slashing of about $100 a week from the payments of single parents, which took effect on 1 January. The letter is in response to an urgent complaint that ACOSS and other welfare groups and human rights experts made last year to the UN Special Rapporteur, following the Federal Government's refusal to follow the recommendation of its own Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights to delay the cuts.

"We thank the UN Special Rapporteur for taking this issue up on behalf of these single parents, 90% of whom are women, and their children.

"The strongly worded letter from the UN Special Rapporteur raises serious concerns that the cuts may be a violation of several rights included under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The ball is now in the Australian Government's court to explain otherwise.

"These include the rights to social security, (article 9 ICESCR), the right to an adequate standard of living (article 11 ICESCR), and the prohibition of non-discrimination in the enjoyment of these rights (article 2 paragraph 2 ICESCR). The letter states that there could also be a violation of additional provisions of the ICESCR such as the prohibition of retrogressive measures (article 2 paragraph 1 ICESCR) and the general limitation clause (article 4 ICESCR).

"Even more concerning is the apparent violations of the Conventions on the Rights of the Child and on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women. The Children's Convention states that:

"in all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration."

"It is clear that this certainly was not the case. Unfortunately achieving a Budget saving was the primary consideration ahead of the rights and wellbeing of children in single parent families who are already among the most disadvantaged in this country. Single mothers are also among the most marginalised and vulnerable groups.

"With one in six children living in poverty in Australia, it is unfathomable that, in the face of such a letter of concern from the UN Special Rapporteur, the Federal Government still went ahead with these cuts. It is also an indictment on both major political parties that the Federal Parliament ignored the first-ever recommendations of the new Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights. Only a handful of parliamentarians, including the Australian Greens and Independents, respected its findings and voted against these cuts. It is incumbent on the Commonwealth Government to address this wrong-doing that will cost our community more in the long term by driving more single parents and their children into poverty.

"The UN Special Rapporteur asks some pertinent questions needing urgent answers, such as whether an impact assessment was conducted concerning an adequate standard of living of the families affected, and whether there was an impact assessment carried out concerning children's rights and interests.

"Like the UN, we would all like to know what monitoring mechanisms have been put in place to assess the implementation of the Act and its impact on the rights of those affected. And what processes or mechanisms for redress will be included. We would also like an explanation for the inadequate consultation with those parents directly affected by the cuts and the lack of alternatives considered.

"These questions need immediate answers. We've been asking them for many months and the Government has had this letter since October last year, several months before the cuts in payment took effect," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

This will be one of the issues to be discussed at the up-coming ACOSS National Conference
'Community: The Heart of the Economy' - 25-26 March 2013.

The UN Special Rapporteur's letter to the Australian Government dated 19 October 2013: 

Letter from ACOSS and other groups to the UN Special Rapporteur dated October 5, 2012

Find out more information

Sydney Mardi Gras: Reminder that much still needs to be done to end discrimination

2 March 2013

ACOSS Chief Executive Dr Cassandra Goldie today wished organisers and participants of the annual Mardi Gras Parade a joyous celebration, adding that much still needs to be done to achieve equality and an end to discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Australia.

"The annual festival has become one of our nation's most popular events , drawing people from all over the world. It is a wonderful celebration of all that has been achieved in the past 35 years, but also a reminder that's there's still much more to be done to achieve true equality," Dr Goldie said.

"There is no doubt there is more acceptance today and we've seen key reforms in areas such as social security, tax and superannuation. However we still need to urgently address the legal discrimination against LGBTI people in Australia. The denial of the right of people to marry regardless of their sexuality, and inconsistent approaches to parental recognition and alternative gender identities amount to a denial of human rights. It is discriminatory and needs to end. We fully support the move to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status, as part of enacting the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012.

"Australia is lagging behind many countries on this front now, even the UK and US, not to mention Mexico, Argentina and others. It's about time our governments showed courage and gave people of diverse sex, sexuality and gender identity the same rights that all other people enjoy.

"There is still some work to be done to make our communities safe, with reports of violence against LGBTI people still persistent. We know that this continual discrimination is having a devastating impact on people's health with members of these communities experiencing disproportionately higher rates of mental health issues, poorer health outcomes, and suicide.

"Sexuality, sex and gender diverse people have disproportionately negative mental health outcomes in comparison with the rest of the population. Research indicates rates of depression, suicidal ideation, suicide and other forms of self-harm between 2 and 14 times higher, as a result of the experience of discrimination and marginalisation.

"We simply cannot allow this to go on. We need a concerted effort to tackle this deeply disturbing evidence of chronic inequality in health outcomes. We need policies which address the longstanding legislative, human rights, community and health issues that impact on the LGBTI communities.

"Today's Mardi Gras Parade will celebrate all the community activism and ongoing resilience of the LGBTI communities and all that has been achieved in the past four decades. As we welcome so many people from all over the world to today's celebration, we should also be cognisant that the world is watching and waiting. It's time for a deeper commitment and action by Australian Governments to true inclusion and participation of LGBTI people," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Putting improved social outcomes at the heart of economic policy debates

25 February 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service is staging its annual conference in Adelaide next month to kick-start a national conversation about the important social and economic policy issues at the forefront of this year's election debates.

The ACOSS National Conference is the meeting place of Australia's community sector, bringing together leading experts, decision makers and people at the front line of social policy and services.

"This year's theme - ‘Community: The Heart of the economy' is about making people and communities the focus of national debates about the economy and our collective future.

"We want to ensure that improved social outcomes are at the heart of productivity debates, tax reform and economic policy in Australia, especially in this election year," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Too often the community is excluded from economic debates amongst ‘experts', commentators, and decision makers. Our conference will provide a platform to bring the community into the important national conversation.

Key topics for discussion at the conference include:

How do we guarantee the crucial social services we will need with our aging population?
• How do we tackle the growing housing affordability crisis?
• How do we lift productivity to include more people in the benefits of growth?
• How do we reduce poverty in Australia?
• What is the future of Australia's income support payment system and when will we see an increase in the base rate of inadequate allowances like Newstart?
• How do we deliver key reforms like the National Disability Insurance Scheme and a more equitable basis to school education?
• How do we strengthen the capacity of the nation's community sector to deliver vital community services?
• How do we improve the democratic and public policy processes of the country?

"Ultimately the decisions we make today must be grounded on the best possible evidence of what works and ensure they improve the lives and health of our communities.

"Our conference will dissect how past and current decisions and reforms measure up, and what changes and improvements are needed to ensure enhanced social outcomes.

"This can only be guaranteed if community voices are heard, and are equal partners in the key national forums that guide the decision making process.

"Australia faces some real economic and social challenges that each and every one of us has a stake in. We want to make sure that this conversation is front and centre of federal election debates and beyond," Dr Goldie concluded.

To arrange interviews contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Find out more, including the full conference program.

Register here.

Key Conference Sessions:

Putting Community at the Centre of the National Economy
• Elephant in the room: Australia's Affordable Housing Crisis
• The Future of Australia's Retirement Income System
• A New Start or more of the same: the future of allowance payments in Australia
• Assessing community engagement, from frameworks to implementation
• Where is the vulnerable energy consumer in market led reforms?
• Gendered experiences of entrenched poverty
• More Carrots, Less Stick: Empowering Communities to Improve their Own Lives
• Beyond the scope? Extreme weather, climate change and the community sector
• Driving the policy agenda for Election 2013

New National Commissioner a major step in safety of children: ACOSS

25 February 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today applauded the appointment of Megan Mitchell as Australia's first National Children's Commissioner.

"This is indeed a major set forward in ensuring that children across our country are kept safe and well and given every opportunity to lead healthy lives in this crucial stage of their development," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"As the peak body for the community sector, ACOSS has long wanted to see such an overseer role created that will provide the important link to the protection of our most precious asset, our children and young people.

"We welcome the choice of Megan Mitchell, who is a former ACOSS Director, and has extensive experience and personal commitment to this area, especially in her most recent role as NSW Children's Commissioner.

"The announcement fulfils a major objective under the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children, which is the nation's first-ever roadmap to deal with child abuse and neglect and to promote the wellbeing of our children.

"It is vital we have a Commissioner focused on championing the aspirations, needs and interests of children and young people. ACOSS, and the entire community sector look forward to working closely with Megan Mitchell and the new office," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 626 155

National ACOSS Board congratulates passing of historic Act of Aboriginal Recognition

15 February 2013

At a full Board meeting in Sydney today , the Australian Council of Social Service praised the passing of important legislation through Federal Parliament this week, which takes us a step closer towards recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia's Constitution. 

The ACOSS board congratulated the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and all sides of politics for coming together and acknowledging what the Prime Minister described as, ''The unhealed wound that even now lies open at the heart of our national story."

"As Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said, Australia would be an incomplete nation and a torn people until the nation's guiding document is changed.

"It was pleasing to see the passage through the House of Representatives of the Act of Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the presence of such prominent Indigenous leaders, including Mr Patrick Dodson, Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue and others, who have fought so hard for so long for this moment," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"We hope the major political parties continue to work in this same cooperative spirit so we can progress the work that remains to be done to achieve full equality and opportunity for Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

"We know there is still so much to be done, and only together, working with representative Aboriginal organisations and communities can we improve the lives and opportunities of our Indigenous Peoples.

"We would also like to congratulate the hard work of the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples whose work largely framed this important Bill.

"We should not lose sight of the importance of ultimately recognising our first peoples in the country's founding document. This is a fundamental necessity on the road to healing our national wound," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contact - 0419 626 155

Increase in payments is ‘affordable’ and urgent to reduce poverty and unemployment in Australia

12 February 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service says increasing low paying income support payments such as Newstart is affordable and urgently needed to stem the worrying trend of growing poverty and inequality in Australia, and significant barriers to employment. 

"We've heard some wild figures bandied around in recent days. The fact is the actual cost is modest and affordable, and absolutely critical if we are to prevent more people falling into poverty in our country," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"In our Budget submission ACOSS has costed an increase to the single rate of allowance payments, including Newstart and Youth Allowance, at $600 million in this financial year and $1.5 billion in 2014-15. We've also proposed fixing indexation arrangements to prevent allowances falling further behind pensions. This has been costed at $200 million in this financial year and $300 million in 2014-15, bringing the total cost to $800 million this year and $1.8n billion overall in the next financial year.

"This figure is more or less in line with the Australian Greens figure of $2 billion a year, or $8 billion over four years, not the $13.1 billion contained in the Federal Finance Department's estimates. The department's figure is misleading as it includes other costings for things that are not being called for.

"ACOSS understands the current fiscal constraints, however, this modest cost is well and truly affordable. Moreover it is vital if we are to begin to tackle what's becoming a worsening picture in Australia.

"The most recent ABS measure of income distribution shows the share of equivalised household income for low income households fell by 0.7 (a 6.7% change) and high income share rose by 2.6 (6.9% change), form 1997-8 compared to 2007-8.

"Preliminary figures extracted from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia surveys by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Social Research published recently, show there was a 2.2 per cent increase in inequality from 2009-10 to 2010-11. Using a scale to measure income inequality, where zero is perfect equality and one is perfect inequality, in 2010-11 the figure - called the Gini coefficient - was 0.325. The previous year it had been 0.318, and the year before that 0.305.

"Our own Poverty in Australia report released late last year revealed 2.2 million people living in poverty in Australia, including one in six children. The report found the proportion of people in poverty rose by approximately one third of a percent from 2003 to 2010. Significantly it found that people at highest risk are the unemployed and those on income support payments. 

"This deteriorating picture is also reflected in reports from leading charities and community welfare organisations who are struggling to keep up with demand for their services.

"We simply cannot wait any longer to deal with what's fast becoming a looming problem. It's time for bipartisan support to deal with this issue. It's about priorities, and we call on all major political parties and the Independents to agree on increasing the allowance payments for singles by $50 a week as recommended by the Henry Tax Review in 2010.

"People who are unemployed are now averaging two years before getting back into paid work. One of the key reasons is that people are so impoverished that they cannot sustain the effort needed to secure paid work, including addressing skills and retraining and other measures. We are also concerned that the Government appears to have frozen on the most successful programs to assist people back into the paid work force, through paid work experience.

"Currently people living on Newstart for example are living about $74 below the poverty line. The modest increase would still leave them below the poverty line. It would however make a big difference in their lives and reduce growing poverty and inequality in our nation," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando De Freitas 0419 626 155

Find out more: $35 a day is not enough!

Small bonus a good start, but bipartisanship needed to raise Newstart

6 February 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service today welcomed the passing of legislation through the Federal Parliament that will provide some support for hundreds of thousands of people living below poverty line incomes, but added that a $50 increase in Allowance payments is urgently needed to reduce poverty in Australia.

"ACOSS welcomed the Income Support Bonus of $210 a year for people living on low paying income support allowances when it was announced in the 2012 Budget. However, this is only a small step. Allowance payments, such as Newstart must be lifted in this year's Budget," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"People living on Allowances like Newstart are among the most disadvantaged in our country. It is therefore deeply concerning that even a small step to improve their situation was opposed by the Federal Coalition during voting on the Income Support Bonus Bill in parliament last night. Coupled with the announcement by the Leader of the Opposition that the Coalition will remove the tax assistance on superannuation for low income earners, we must ask what the Coalition will do to address poverty in Australia, which continues to rise, if elected?

"All the evidence is in and we simply must find the money to fund a modest increase in the Newstart Allowance. There is no justification for keeping the payment so low. It's clear that nobody can live on $246 a week with current costs of living. $35 a day is not enough to pay the rent, feed and clothe yourself, and get around to look for a job.

"This has been made all too clear by the overwhelming evidence presented at the recent Senate Inquiry and countless reports from major charities and other community organisations.

"We understand the tight fiscal environment. However, after nearly 20 years of virtually staying frozen in time in real terms, Newstart Allowance should be increased by at least $50 a week as the Government's own Henry tax panel recommended in 2010.

"We can and should right this wrong at the upcoming Budget. ACOSS has identified billions of dollars that could be saved in the Budget if the Federal Government tackled poorly targeted subsidies and tax concessions and clamps down on tax loopholes such as private trusts.

"Tackling these areas of waste will make room in the Budget for more investment in major social and economic infrastructure that we all want. Things like an NDIS, better education and healthcare and other important services. And for a vital increase in Allowance payments.

"We call on all political parties to ensure the passage through the Senate of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support Bonus) Bill 2012. And we continue to urge bipartisan support for a much needed increase in Allowance payments in the upcoming Budget," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Find out more:
$35 a day is not enough!

Turn bipartisan concern for low Newstart into action for an increase

12 January 2013

The Australian Council of Social Service welcomes growing interest from all sides of politics in the urgent need to increase the Newstart Allowance payment, and is calling for bipartisan support to make this happen when parliament resumes in February.

"Politicians from all sides have acknowledged in recent weeks that the $35 a day Newstart payment is simply too low to live on. Now we need our federal leaders to come together and convert this concern into action," said Acting ACOSS CEO Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine.

"We welcome media reports today that options are being considered by the Federal Government. Providing extra supports for people on Newstart, especially the long term unemployed, and allowing them to keep more of their payments if their number of hours of paid work increases, are both very important measures.

"However these measures alone will not address the fact that people on the Newstart Allowance are living in poverty, while we expect them to find and keep a job. A $50 a week increase to the single payment rate is urgently needed to address this. This is what the Government's own Henry Tax Panel recommended in 2010.

"ACOSS has calculated that the Newstart payment is around $74 below the poverty line, so the modest $50 increase will help enormously but still leave people below the poverty line. This makes the other measures a crucial part of the solution.

"Along with extra support measures to prepare people for paid work, and allow them to keep more of the money they earn, we also need to align the different indexation arrangements, which has led to allowances like Newstart falling $140 below pensions. If this is not addressed Newstart is expected to be worth just half the pensions by 2040.

"If we're serious about addressing poverty in Australia, where 1 in 8 people, including 1 in 6 children are already living below the poverty line, we must right this historic wrong and increase the payment. This will put people in a much better position to be able to participate in society through paid work.

"There is ample evidence, including three parliamentary inquiries and reports by most major charities, that the payment is now so low it's driving people into poverty and is a barrier to work. This can neither be ignored nor put off any longer. The payment hasn't been increased in real terms for nearly two decades and continues to fall further behind community living standards.

"The much needed increase would also operate as a stimulus to the economy because people will use the money to feed themselves, pay their high rents and increasing bills, as well as on clothing and other basic items, which they are currently struggling to do or missing out on," Dr Boyd-Caine said

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

Find out more about the $35 a day is not enough!

No happy New Year for people hit by benefit changes

1 January 2013

For many, 2013 will not be a happy New Year. A large number of people will be much worse off following changes to Centrelink benefits coming into effect today (January 1).

The Australian Council of Social Service and National Welfare Rights Network say changes to the Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, Austudy and other benefits will have the greatest impact on people trying to survive on low-incomes.

"The changes impact more than 80,000 people," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie. "This includes 60,000 single parent families receiving Parenting Payment.

"Single parents will see a cut of between $60 and $110 per week. This will have a devastating impact on single parent families and their children. These families are already struggling as they live below the poverty line.

"Single parents whose youngest child is over eight and partnered parents with their youngest over six will now only have Newstart or other benefits to rely on if they are eligible for them. Newstart is paid at a much lower rate than Parenting Payment. These cuts should be delayed until Newstart is increased," Dr Goldie said.

Young people continue to be poorly supported as they study or search for work. Young people over 18 and mature age students on Austudy see their fortnightly payment increase by just $4.80 today to a total payment of only $203 per week.

National Welfare Rights Network Vice President Ms Kate Beaumont said, "Many young people will receive just 18 cents extra a day. Unfair indexation must be addressed and rates of payment increased for young people living independently.

"Many young people face ongoing financial difficulties and severe financial stress. Low rates of payments add weight to calls from business, welfare groups, the ACTU and the OECD to increase unemployment and student payments by $50 a week.

"Current indexation arrangements are failing younger Australians, and the rate of Youth Allowance falls far short of the accepted poverty line," Ms Beaumont said.

ACOSS and the National Welfare Rights Network said politicians must focus on two key areas as a priority in 2013 - an increase in Newstart and greater support for employment services. Both these measures must target those most needing support and people who are most disadvantaged.

For interviews and more information:
Australian Council of Social Service, 0419 626 155
National Welfare Rights Network, 0425 296 882

Find out more about the $35 a day is not enough! campaign, and more info on Single Parent Payment cuts.

Roundtable begins search for ways to improve job opportunities for disadvantaged groups

21 December 2012

A joint roundtable stemming from the collaboration between ACOSS, the BCA, and the ACTU found there are major barriers towards getting unemployed people into jobs and discussed the potential for new approaches such as 'demand-led' employment to meet the needs of both employers and people disadvantaged in the labour market.

The roundtable, held on December 13 and attended by 27 experts from business, unions, the community, and other sectors concluded that:

• The job support system should allow for employers and job service providers to work in partnership, often over long periods of time. The roundtable noted that the complexity of the current system, and the payment incentives under the current Job Services Australia (JSA) providers are seen as a barrier to developing this type of partnership.
• Incentives should be geared towards finding a sustainable match between employers and jobseekers, rather than placing the jobseeker in the first job available, which may not be suitable for their skills and aptitudes.
• There is a need to improve the training system to provide more on-the-job training and work experience to jobseekers, who do not always learn well in a classroom environment.

The first-of-its-kind alliance between the three organisations was established earlier this month to tackle entrenched disadvantage by working collaboratively towards providing employment opportunities for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market, and giving employers access to workers who meet their skills needs.

The roundtable discussed how the employment services system can be configured to better serve the needs of both employers and disadvantaged jobseekers, and what new structures and incentives are required to achieve this.

"There was general agreement among the participants that more needs to be done to facilitate best practice demand-led approaches to employment services," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie, acting as spokesperson for the Alliance.

"Demand-led approaches are characterised by deep employer and community engagement, combined with a commitment to improving employment, retention and progression outcomes for disadvantaged jobseekers and to meet employer needs. We are pleased that much progress was made," Dr Goldie said.

"Our three organisations intend to use the outcomes of the roundtable to promote the greater use of best practice demand-led approaches to assist disadvantaged jobseekers finding sustainable and decent work. This is an integral part of the three organisations' alliance to reduce entrenched disadvantage.

"ACOSS, the ACTU and the BCA will also use the information to feed into the federal government's work to improve how Job Services Australia meets the needs of jobseekers and employers," Dr Goldie said.

Media contact:

Fernando de Freitas (ACOSS) - 0419 626 155

Download the joint statement: Opportunity for All [PDF]

New Year must bring a better safety net for single parents and people looking for work

21 December 2012

The Federal Government's decision not to pursue a budget surplus is a sensible and welcome call. We urge the Government to demonstrate leadership once again by increasing income support payments for unemployed, students and single parents.

In a joint statement today Terese Edwards from the National Council of Single Mothers and Their Children (NCSMC), Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and Maree O'Halloran from the National Welfare Rights Network (NWRN) called on the Treasurer and acting Prime Minister, Wayne Swan, to commit to an increase to the single rate of Newstart Allowance by $50 a week.

"The Federal Government could achieve help people in need and stimulate the economy by increasing the rate of Newstart for the 48,000 single parents already on the payment. An increase to Newstart would also address the savage withdrawal of $728 million over the next four years from single parents and their children.

"Payment cuts affecting single parents of between $60 and $110 per week will have a devastating impact upon single parent families and their children, who are already living below the poverty line. These cuts should be delayed until Newstart is increased.

Find out more about the $35 a day is not enough! campaign and Single Parent Payment cuts.

"Three Senate inquiries have raised concerns with the plan to push parents onto the Newstart Allowance. A new joint Committee on Human Rights noted, but was not convinced, by the department's assertion that this measure is fair and would promote workforce participation.

"An estimated 10,000 single parents will lose access to all social security payments, and will also lose entitlement to the concessions and cheaper medicines that are attached to the Pensioner Concession Card.

"Parenting Payment single recipients currently working will face a harsher income test when moved onto the lower Newstart Allowance, which begins to be reduced when income reaches $32 per week. Parenting Payment (single) does not begin to be reduced until income reaches $87 per week plus $12 extra for each child.

"A single parent family earning between $200 and $500 a week will have their disposable income reduced by between 11.4 and 11.1 per cent. The implications for those single parents who are already in paid employment will be immediate, with parents raising children losing considerable amounts of income. Financial losses of this magnitude will be a major disincentive to work.

"Despite Government claims that 3,000 parents would be eligible for higher payments, such as the Disability Support Pension or the Carer Payment, only 400 parents have been deemed eligible for these payments.

"The Government must prioritise assistance for households doing it toughest. People on the Newstart Allowance of just $35 a day are at breaking point, with 70% reporting three or more indicators of financial stress. They are followed closely by people on Parenting Payment (77%).

"The Government needs to find room to make funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the increased funding to education recommended in the Gonski review.

"The Senate report released in late November found that the rate of the Newstart Allowance, which stands at $246 per week, is inadequate, agreeing that it fails to provide an acceptable standard of living "for anything but the shortest period". Labor and the Greens Senators have agreed with the overwhelming majority of submissions to a Senate inquiry that NSA needs to be increased and that indexation arrangements must be improved.

"We welcome the statement that a budget surplus is not the most important goal and point out the long-term damage and cost when families slide into poverty."

For comment:

Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service: 0419 626 155
Maree O'Halloran, AM, President, National Welfare Rights Network: 0425 296 882
Terese Edwards, CEO, National Council of Single Mothers and Their Children: 0439 211 493

ACOSS response to surplus announcement: Letting go of fixed Budget surplus commitment is the right thing to do

 

Letting go of fixed Budget surplus commitment is the right thing to do: ACOSS

20 December 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service welcomes today's announcement by the Acting Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan that the Federal Government will no longer be pursuing a budget surplus in 2012-13. 

"ACOSS supports the goal of getting the Government's budget back into surplus when the economy is growing strongly, but that is no longer the case. Sticking to a fixed surplus target regardless of the state of the economy would not be economically sensible.

"Economic conditions are now more uncertain. There is still a large pipeline of mining related investment but the pace of that investment has slowed and business confidence has ebbed, especially in those industries and regions affected by the high dollar. The best chance for sustained growth lies in either a housing recovery or a lower dollar. But we don't know whether the economy will succeed in changing horses in mid-stream.

"Sticking to a fixed budget surplus target is not the right strategy under these conditions.

"Regardless of the fate of the surplus target, the Government faces two budget challenges.

"First, it must make room in the budget for new expenditure in areas of high unmet need such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme, increasing Newstart Allowance, and reform of school funding.

"Second, all Governments must begin to prepare for increase in health aged care and other costs associated with an ageing population.

"The solution to both of those challenges is to clear wasteful and poorly targeted expenditure from the budget, and to avoid introducing new programs that are not rigorously designed to meet the country's essential economic and social needs.

"There is no quick fix to the nations' current and future budgetary challenges. While further tax reform is essential to build a reliable, efficient and equitable revenue base for the future, increasing the GST is no a magic bullet and this would erode living standards for people on low incomes.

"Government should instead start with the well-crafted recommendations of the Henry Report, especially those that remove loopholes and distortions from the income tax system. We need to get taboo issues like negative gearing and the treatment of private trusts back onto the tax reform agenda, and for the States to make better use of their most efficient taxes such as Land Tax and Payroll Tax," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

OECD joins growing call for increase in Newstart Allowance

11 December 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has welcomed the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) recognition that an increase in Australia's unemployment benefit is needed to reduce the growing gap between the value of Newstart Allowance and other welfare benefits. 

The OCED's ‘Activating Jobseekers: How Australia Does It' report released today says that Australia has the second highest employment rate of OECD G20 countries, at 72.5%, just after Germany (72.7%), and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the OECD. It also confirms that Australia has a low rate of working-age dependency on income replacement benefits, and spends relatively little on labour market programs.

"Although the OECD appears to paint a positive picture of the effectiveness of Australia's employment services system, it clearly recognises that the single rate of Newstart Allowance is now too low," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"The OECD recommends a reduction in the gap between Newstart and pensions which has blown out to $140 a week because of different indexation arrangements. ACOSS has long argued that Allowances such as Newstart should be indexed to wages like pensions, not the lower measure of the Consumer Price Index.

"The Henry Tax Review panel also recognised the need to reduce the payments gap, and it advocated an increase in the Newstart payment, equivalent to $50 per week, for single people - the same increase that pensioners received in 2009.

"We see this as urgent if we're going to prevent more people falling into poverty in Australia. We know that people living on these payments simply cannot make ends meet on $35 a day. The base rate of Newstart hasn't been increased in nearly 20 years. There's no need for ‘caution'. Increasing low paying income benefits must be a key priority in the 2013 Budget.

"This is the overwhelming consensus in Australia today - from business groups, unions, economists, the Henry Tax panel, the entire community sector, and more than 70 submissions to the recent Senate Inquiry.

"ACOSS supports the OECD recommendation for strengthening incentives for employment services providers to help the most disadvantaged people into jobs. The report says that ‘the jobseeker caseload has become more skewed towards the most disadvantaged' confirming our calls for greater assistance for long-term unemployed people.

"The OECD recommends increases in fees for employment service providers to work with the long term unemployed, saying this ‘would encourage providers to invest more in training and hard-to-place jobseekers'. Currently providers only receive between $500 - $1000 to assist long term unemployed people with training and work experience, which is simply inadequate.

"ACOSS supports other recommendations in the report, including cutting red tape for employment services by simplifying requirements for data entry and reporting, and the need to ensure incentives and assistance measures ‘to counteract any cyclical rebound of unemployment'," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

Find out more about the $35 a day is not enough! Campaign

ACOSS welcomes COAG’s plan, and calls for swift action on independent consumer body

7 December 2012

ACOSS has welcomed today's COAG agreement on tackling rising energy prices, including better resourcing of the Australian Energy Regulator, and a stronger consumer voice to challenge decisions in the energy market.

"We now call on Governments to take swift action to turn this in-principle agreement into real action to address electricity prices," said ACOSS CEO Dr Goldie,

"Consumers have been hurt by rapid price rises over recent years, and it's pretty clear that our current system isn't working. Action is now needed to bring consumer interests front and centre in all energy market processes.

COAG has agreed to the formation of two new consumer bodies - a Consumer Challenge Panel, located in the Australian Energy Regulator, and a separate national advocacy body for energy consumers.

"ACOSS welcomes this recognition that consumers need a stronger voice in how decisions are made in our energy market. However, while we're pleased to see a consumer challenge panel entrenched within the Australian Energy Regulator, we regard it as crucial that COAG move quickly to establish a stable, independent consumer body to ensure that consumer interests are represented across all areas of the energy market, not just on decisions made by the Regulator.

"The reality is that energy businesses already have a powerful voice in the system - a national consumer advocacy body can balance that voice and contribute to more responsible, effective, sustainable and fair energy markets, and ensure that consumers aren't being short-changed, for example by unnecessary spending on poles and wires.

"ACOSS also strongly supports increasing the Australian Energy Regulator's funding and stronger rules to reduce ‘gold plating' of electricity networks. The Regulator is the key controller of network prices, and it is important that it have the strongest rules and sufficient staffing to prevent the explosion in network expenditure seen in recent years.

"While we agree that time-of-use pricing strategies can lead to cost savings for many consumers, not all consumers are going to be winners. Therefore, it's important to ensure that low income households are sufficiently protected and are also given every opportunity to participate.

"The introduction of cost-reflective pricing is a massive change for consumers in terms of how they manage their energy use. A change of this magnitude must be accompanied by a comprehensive consumer information and education campaign, funded by governments. Such a campaign will need to target vulnerable consumers. A national consumer advocacy body can monitor the impacts of these changes, and make sure that Governments are adequately protecting and informing consumers.'

"The telecommunications industry has its own, independent consumer advocacy centre - it is about time that energy consumers received representation as well.

"We're looking forward to working with all Governments on this important reform process," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Better dental care is in the States’ hands

7 December 2012

Six peak organisations concerned with dental health in Australia are coming together to write to Premiers and Chief Ministers, urging them to sign the National Partnership Agreement with the Commonwealth to allow significant additional Federal funds to be allocated to public dental health services.

The six are the Australian Dental Association (ADA), the Australian Healthcare and Hospital Association (AHHA), the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) and the Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (AHCRA).

"Dental care is one of the most under-funded areas of the Australian health systems. But hopes for a much better dental care system are being severely threatened by States' refusing to accept the Federal Government's offer of very large increases in funding," a spokesman for the six said.

"Access to public dental health services, especially for children and people on low income, can be dramatically improved if the States and Territories agree to simply maintain their financial effort on oral health at 2010-11 levels and accept the significant Commonwealth funds to augment this. Assuming they do this, the total amount of money available for public dental services - from Commonwealth and State - will be increased substantially.

"The public will be unforgiving if the States fail in this regard and try to replace their current financial effort with Commonwealth money from the oral health package announced in August. If State Treasuries see this as an opportunity to save money, the Commonwealth funds will not flow. The losers will be the low income adults who have been missing out on dental care for so long.

"Our six organisations intend to make every effort to see that this once-in-a-generation opportunity to put right a serious health inequity is not missed.

"Today's meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) provides an opportunity for Premiers, Chief Ministers and the Prime Minister to signal their agreement to proceeding collaboratively down the path to better oral health care." 

Contacts: 

Prue Power, AHHA 0417 419 857
Tessa Boyd-Caine, ACOSS 02 9310 6211
Karin Alexander, ADA 02 9906 4412
Michael Moore, PHAA 0417 249 731
Gordon Gregory, NRHA 02 6285 4660
Tony McBride, AHCRA 0407 531

$4.8m cuts will severely hurt vulnerable children and families in the NT

6 December 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service today expressed deep alarm at the Northern Territory Government's decision to cut nearly $5m to the community sector, adding this will severely impact on the lives of the most vulnerable Territorians. 

"Cutting $4.8 million from groups that play such a vital role in our community is a major setback in our long term efforts to deal with entrenched disadvantage in the Territory," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"We all know the extent of the problems, especially in the child protection area, so ripping money from community organisations funded through the Office of Children and Families is a significant backwards step.

"The Territory has appalling rates of children in the child protection system, particularly Aboriginal children, yet the new Government is targeting this very sector for savings, when we actually need to invest more if we're going to make a difference.

"This is not the way for a new Government to start relations with the sector that does the heavy lifting in our community. This is the sector that people turn to when they fall into hard times, the sector supporting people facing horrific life stories. Our groups, workers and volunteers are the ones left to pick up the pieces, supporting people to rebuild their lives and be included in our society.

"ACOSS is also disappointed the Government is targeting the sector's peak body NTCOSS, which has been told it will lose more than half of its funding. This will have a significant impact on their ability to provide support to NGO's across the NT.

"Minister Robyn Lambley appears to have ignored the advice of the Growing Them Strong, Together Board of Inquiry recommendations, which included building the capacity of the NGO sector including peak bodies. These recommendations were developed by a panel of experts after widespread consultation across the Territory. We need to know the basis for the Minister's disregard for this expert advice.

"NGO's need to play a key role if we are going to be able to continue to implement the recommendations of the Growing Them Strong, Together report. That inquiry and previous inquiries provide a robust evidence base approach to addressing child protection. The recommendations need to be implemented in full if we are ever going to provide adequate services to protect vulnerable children in the Territory. Any significant move away from this evidence based approach must have a solid basis.

"ACOSS calls on the Territory Government to be transparent about the future direction, including the evidence it's founded on, and work with NGO sector if we are to truly improve the lives of vulnerable children and families in Territory," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

Focus on real drivers of energy price rises and consumer protection: ACOSS

4 December 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has welcomed the Prime Minister's focus on electricity prices in the lead up to Friday's COAG meeting, and is calling on all Governments to focus on the real drivers of price rises.

Dr Cassandra Goldie, ACOSS CEO, said this morning, "Consumers have been hurt by rapid price rises over recent years, and it's pretty clear that our current system isn't working." What people want right now is for all Governments to work together to fix the real causes of electricity price rises and strengthen consumer protection."

"ACOSS strongly supports greater consumer representation in all areas of the energy market. We would be pleased to see a consumer challenge panel entrenched within the Australian Energy Regulator, but we are also keen for the Government to establish a stable, independent national consumer body that ensures that consumer interests are front-and-centre in all energy market processes.

"An effective, well-resourced national energy consumer advocacy body can operate to ensure consumer interests are central to decision making by governments, regulators and energy businesses. The reality is that energy businesses already have a powerful voice in the system - a national consumer advocacy body will contribute to more responsible, effective, sustainable and fair energy markets and ensure that consumers aren't being short changed, for example by unnecessary spending on poles and wires.

"We look forward to the Prime Minister releasing further details of the plan to allow a proper assessment of its impact on consumers, including low income and vulnerable consumers. We know that low income and vulnerable consumers are particularly impacted by high electricity prices and it's crucial that electricity reforms provide adequate protections and opportunities for them.

"While time-of-use pricing strategies can lead to cost savings for many consumers, not all consumers are going to be winners. Therefore, it's important to ensure that low income households are sufficiently protected and are also given every opportunity to participate.

"The introduction of cost-reflective pricing should be accompanied by a comprehensive consumer information and education campaign, funded by governments. Such a campaign will need to target vulnerable consumers.

"We want to see the Commonwealth and state and territory governments work together in this important reform process to improve outcomes for all consumers," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

ACOSS submission to senate inquiry into electricity prices

Joint Statement on ACOSS, ACTU and BCA Cooperation

3 December 2012

Today the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the Business Council of Australia (BCA) released a joint statement outlining how the three organisations will cooperate to tackle entrenched disadvantage through collaborative action.

Download the joint statement: Opportunity for All [PDF]

The statement is the first of its kind in Australia and outlines a shared commitment by the three peak bodies to work collaboratively towards:
• providing employment opportunities for Australians who are disadvantaged in the labour market; and
• giving employers access to workers who meet their skills needs.

"Our organisations share a belief that well-managed economic growth shared amongst all Australians is the key to enduring prosperity and is the best way to tackle entrenched disadvantage," said Australian Council of Social Service Chief Executive Cassandra Goldie, speaking on behalf of the collaboration.

Our vision for shared prosperity is based on the following key principles:• a strong economy with competitive businesses and enterprises

• robust public institutions that engender confidence
• healthy, safe, productive and fair workplaces
• greater access to employment for those currently missing out
• access to lifelong education and training opportunities
• a social safety net that provides adequate income support without impeding transition to work
• effective and efficient support services targeted to those in most need.

"Everyone wins if we can bring people currently excluded from the labour market into regular decent work that is productive and delivers a fair income in conditions of freedom, equity and security in line with human dignity. This is one of the best ways to ensure that prosperity is shared by people who are currently missing out," Ms Goldie said.

"The joint statement represents a commitment from our three organisations to contribute to enduring prosperity for all Australians by focusing on the areas of common ground between us rather than those areas we disagree on.

"By working together collaboratively it has become clear that we actually share many common aspirations and agree on many important principles. To that end this alliance will:
• convene an expert roundtable to discuss best practice polices that support ‘demand-led' employment assistance for disadvantaged jobseekers;
• investigate options for better linking of pre-employment training initiatives with demand-led approaches; and
• host a forum to explore the importance of reducing inequality and entrenched disadvantage for Australia's future economic growth and prosperity.

"All three organisations believe that by working together we will be able to achieve better social outcomes for Australia. We can reduce poverty and reliance on social security, and at the same time, grow the economy," Ms Goldie said.

"Cooperation is fundamental to achieving lasting reform, which is essential to building enduring prosperity," Business Council President Tony Shepherd said.

"Business wants to see all Australians in a position to contribute to and benefit from economic growth. Growth is fundamental to prosperity but we know that it must be well managed, it must be fair and there must be equality of opportunity."

Ged Kearney, President of the ACTU, said: "There are groups of people in Australia - long-term unemployed, people with fewer skills, women caring for a child alone, people with disabilities, many Indigenous Australians, as well as people new to Australia - who remain excluded from society.

"We must ensure that everyone, irrespective of background or position in society, has the opportunity to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from our shared prosperity.

"If we can bring people currently excluded from the labour market into regular decent work, we can reduce poverty, enhance human dignity, and improve the economy," Ms Kearney said.

"This alliance shares the vision that pursuing social and economic objectives at the same time is in our nation's long-term interest," Ms Kearney said.

Download the joint statement: Opportunity for All [PDF]

Senate report adds voice to calls for urgent increase in Newstart Allowance

29 November 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service said the report of the Senate inquiry into the adequacy of Newstart and other Allowances, released today, adds another voice to the chorus of calls for urgent action to increase these payments for single people. 

"A substantial increase in Newstart Allowance for singles should now be front and centre among priorities for the 2013 Budget," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"The Inquiry heard from dozens of community organisations, business organisations, unions and experts that single people and sole parents on Newstart and similar payments cannot meet the most basic living costs, or search for employment, on $35 a day.

"Many endorsed our call for a $50 per week increase in these payments for singles, and for them to be indexed to wage movements so that the $140 per week gap between allowances and pensions does not grow any wider. These increases were recommended by the Henry Report.

"We welcome the call from Labor and Greens Senators on the Committee for an urgent increase in Newstart and related payments for singles, and for those payments to be indexed to wages. We also welcome proposals from the Coalition Senators to increase the earnings threshold above which payments are withdrawn, though our clear priority is to increase the payments.

"However, we warn against any approach to payment reform that divides social security recipients into 'deserving and undeserving poor' by providing extra assistance exclusively to one group and excluding others. It's the historical targeting to deservedness rather than need that has been the root cause of much of the unfairness and complexity in our social security system today

"This is the reason that allowances for unemployed people are $140 a week less than pensions, unemployed people and sole parents missed out on the increases to pensions in 2009, and 80,000 sole parents will have their payments cut by $60 a week or more from next January 1, 2013.

"When the Pension Review recommended an increase in the single pension in 2008 based on evidence that single pensioners were doing it tough, the Government moved swiftly to implement the proposal. Unemployed people and sole parents missed out. The Henry Report recommended in 2010 that single unemployed people should receive the same increase - now worth $50 per week. Two years have passed. The Senate report confirms that is a high time this was implemented.

"Just like a National Disability Insurance Scheme, introduced into parliament today, an increase in Allowance payments is an urgent national priority. We can do both. Both are vitally important if we want to improve the lives of disadvanatged people in our country in the interests of greater economic and social participation by all.

"ACOSS understands the current budgetary constraints, but budgeting is always about priorities. In the current economic climate, our priority should be on increasing the participation of everyone, not just in individuals' interests but to benefit our society.

"We call on the Federal Government to heed this mounting evidence and move to do the right thing by this group of forgotten people in Australia who have been left to languish on such meagre and unliveable allowance payments," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

See Senate Inquiry Report 

Find out more about the $35 a day is not enough! campaign

Community sector response to Senate Inquiry report on Newstart Allowance

28 November 2012

WHO: ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie and other representatives from Australia's community welfare sector

WHEN: 3.30pm Thursday November 29, 2012

WHERE: Senate Courtyard, Parliament House, Canberra

The Australian Council of Social Service will lead the community sector response to a Senate Inquiry report into the adequacy of income support payments, due to be tabled in parliament tomorrow (November 29, 2012).

ACOSS has been calling for an urgent $50 a week increase in the Newstart payment, which has not been increased in real terms for nearly 20 years. Leading charities and other frontline organisations provided overwhelming evidence to the Inquiry that the low payment of $35 a day is simply not enough for people to live on and is driving people into poverty.

The community sector expects the Senate Committee report to reflect this irrefutable evidence presented in more than 70 submissions and recommend that allowance payments such as Newstart be raised. And groups will be looking for the government to act to correct this 20 year injustice, and finally lift allowance payments to a descent liveable level.

Media Contact:

Fernando de Freitas at ACOSS - 0419 626 155

Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers reaches a new low

22 November 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service today joined a chorus of community and human rights groups expressing deep concern at the Commonwealth Government's decision to withhold crucial support services and proper visa status for asylum seekers proven to be refugees.

"This is a new low in the major political parties treatment of some of the most vulnerable and desperate people in the world. It's a clear abdication of our moral, humanitarian and international legal obligations," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Leaving people found to be refugees on bridging visas indefinitely with no right to work and only basic accommodation assistance and limited financial support is completely unnecessary and immeasurably cruel.

"We know the result of this policy in the past where asylum seekers were left to live in appalling poverty, with chronic health issues and completely forgotten in detention for many years.

"The community sector is also concerned about the impact this decision will have on their services, which are already under enormous strain, especially as we move into the holiday period. Community welfare groups and charities will again be expected to pick up the pieces of failed government policy.

"This is already largely the case with the hundreds of thousands of people living well below the poverty line on low income support payments like Newstart Allowance. Now we're condemning proven refugees to live on even less and to be denied other supports. Worst of all, they will not be able to help themselves by getting paid work. 

"The least the Government should do is ensure this new wave of Australians are properly cared for and supported, including providing adequate assistance to the community agencies that will be expected to do the heavy lifting on the ground.

"There is also the unanswered question of what will happen to vulnerable families with children and unaccompanied minors caught up in this limbo of Government policy.

"This latest move represents a failure of our national government in its duty to protect child asylum seekers and refugees. This policy should be soundly condemned by an advanced, wealthy, fair minded country like Australia," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Federal homelessness commitment welcomed, now states and territories must come on board

14 November 2012

The peak body for Australia's community welfare sector, ACOSS, has welcomed today's Commonwealth government announcement that it will commit to providing half the funding as part of a new homelessness partnership agreement with the states and territories.

"This commitment is welcomed and we now call on the states and territories to come on board and negotiate an agreement when housing ministers meet on Friday," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service.

"The release of ABS figures this week showing that homelessness continues to rise in Australia makes it imperative that an agreement is reached as soon as possible. We simply must act if we are to prevent more people falling into poverty and onto the streets.

"We know that the high cost of housing is one of the principle reasons for an 8% increase in homeless between 2006 and 2011. There were over than 105, 000 classified as homeless on Census night in August 2011, which is not good enough for a wealthy country such as ours that prides itself on fairness.

"ACOSS welcomes Housing and Homelessness Minister Brendan O'Connor's statement that a new partnership will be ‘based on matched funding and framed by the core principles of prevention, early intervention and breaking the cycle of homelessness'.

"We know that without a National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness the level of homelessness would be even worse. We also know that investment in areas such as the social housing initiative have made a positive impact on homelessness services. But there is still a long way to go.

"We must continue our efforts to expand the supply of affordable housing, and to ensure homelessness services are adequately funded.

"ACOSS has called for the establish of an Affordable Housing Growth Fund in order to expand the stock of affordable housing, with a long term funding strategy attached to it. We've also called for the National Rental Affordability Scheme, that directly encourages investment in new affordable flats and houses, should also be expanded.

"We urge housing ministers to negotiate in good faith and come to agreement at Friday's Council of Australian Governments meeting so we have long term certainty in funding that is vital to begin the process of reversing the slide in the number of people falling into homelessness.

"We need an outcome that ensures funding levels are retained, properly indexed and increased over time. The agreement should also become open ended recognising that our efforts need to be long term and sustained.

"Community organisations at the frontline of dealing with this problem need to be properly resourced, and like the business sector also be part of the COAG process of informing ministers who ultimately decide on policy responses," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Census figures a wake-up call for action on affordable housing crisis leading to homelessness

12 November 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has expressed alarm at new Census data released today showing an increase in the level of homelessness in Australia and called for a concerted national effort to address the worsening problem.

According to estimates of the prevalence of homelessness released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) the rate of homelessness in Australia was 49 persons for every 10,000 persons enumerated in the 2011 Census, up 8% from 45 persons in 2006.

"Clearly we are not doing enough to deal with homelessness. The latest figures are a wake-up call that one of the principal ways to deal with homelessness is to take measures to tackle the nations' affordable housing crisis, which is causing so much strain and forcing people into poverty," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"It's also a sign of the extent of strain being experienced by community support services, especially those supporting women escaping violence; young people, including those leaving care; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. About three quarters of the increase in the overall homelessness estimate to 2011 was accounted for by people who were born overseas.

"These problems were all borne out in our own research only a few months ago, which revealed the enormous pressures housing and homelessness services are under, 81% of whom reported being simply unable to meet demand.

"The reduction in the number of rough sleepers is welcome, however most of the increase in homelessness between 2006 and 2011 resulted from the rise in the number of people living in severely crowded dwellings. This is a clear sign of the extent of the affordable housing crisis.

"We've seen evidence that investment in areas such as the social housing initiative made a positive impact on homelessness services, but there are still far too many people being turned away - a total of 20,496 over the year or 56 people each day (Australian Community Sector Survey).

"We must continue our efforts to expand the supply of affordable housing, and to ensure homelessness services are adequately funded. There is so much more to be done if we are to alleviate the poverty and homelessness associated with the high cost of housing, especially in our capital cities which have seen house prices rise nearly 150% over the past decade and rents rise by 49% in the last five years.

"Our survey showed this to be the single most important issue for policy makers to prioritise for people experiencing poverty and disadvantage. ACOSS has called for the establish of an Affordable Housing Growth Fund in order to expand the stock of affordable housing, with a long term funding strategy attached to it. The National Rental Affordability Scheme, that directly encourages investment in new affordable flats and houses, should also be expanded.

"We need a sustained effort to improve the housing affordability crisis that's leading to worsening poverty in our country and placing great strain on community services. To that end we urgently need agreement between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments on the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness to ensure funding certainty for chronically under-funded homelessness services in Australia.

"As a wealthy nation, Australia has a responsibility to ensure all its citizens have the opportunity to fulfil the basic need of having a roof over their heads that's affordable and liveable. Let's use this most up to date information to guide us into action instead of allowing the status quo which is forcing more people into poverty and homelessness," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Nation's legal services reaching homeless service crisis levels: ACOSS Report (August 2012)

Consumer interests strengthened in electricity pricing report

2 November 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has welcomed the recommendations of the Senate Select Committee on Electricity Prices and strongly supports the Committee's recommendation to form a new national consumer advocacy body to represent and support consumers.

ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said, "An effective, well-resourced national energy consumer advocacy body can operate to ensure consumer interests are central to decision-making by governments, regulators and energy businesses."

"Working closely with existing advocacy and community agencies to leverage existing skills, knowledge and experience, a new body focused on national key priorities can contribute to more responsible, effective, sustainable and fair energy markets," Dr Goldie said.

"A national advocacy body would provide the technical expertise needed to make sure consumers aren't being short changed by unnecessary spending on poles and wires.

"ACOSS and other consumer bodies have developed a business plan for an advocacy body which will be considered by COAG in December. We are calling on the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments to support this initiative, and give consumers a greater voice in regulatory processes.

"We are pleased that the Committee has recommended that time-of-use pricing be gradually phased in with smaller consumers given the option to opt-in if it is beneficial for them. Many low income consumers have a limited capacity to respond to price signals. They can be limited in their ability to exercise choice in how they use energy or invest in energy efficiency improvements.

"While time-of-use pricing strategies can lead to cost savings for many consumers, not all consumers are going to be winners, and it's important to ensure that low income consumers are adequately protected.

"ACOSS also supports the recommendation that the introduction of cost-reflective pricing be accompanied by a comprehensive consumer information and education campaign, funded by governments. Such a campaign will need to target vulnerable consumers.

"The National Energy Customer Framework was due to be introduced in July 2012, and is intended to provide a set of consumer protection measures. What's needed now is for all States and Territories to come on board and implement the Framework immediately, but also for the framework to be updated to cover smart meters and time of use pricing," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155 

ACOSS submission to senate inquiry into electricity prices

ACOSS welcomes landmark step towards nationally consistent regulation for charities

1 November 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has today welcomed the passage of legislation to establish the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

"This reform will provide a national framework for proportionate, consistent regulation and will continue important progress towards reducing the current burden of duplicated reporting faced by many sector organisations," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Charitable community services are among the most economically significant parts of the broader not-for-profit sector, which contributes 5% of Australia’s GDP and 8% of employment nationally.

"The establishment of a national regulator for charities is something ACOSS has long called for, to address the current situation in which charities are overly but ineffectively regulated.

"Throughout this process, ACOSS has worked closely with the sector, Government and Parliament to ensure that the legislation contains the right balance between valuing and preserving the sector’s independence, while ensuring an appropriate regulatory framework for an industry that makes a major economic as well as social contribution.

"We acknowledge the Government’s commitment to establish the national regulator, and congratulate Ministers Butler and Bradbury, the Greens and the ACNC Implementation Taskforce in their work towards this reform," Dr Goldie said.

The benefits of the establishment of the ACNC for charitable community services are anticipated to include:

• Reducing the burden of duplicated and overly onerous reporting for organisations funded by Commonwealth agencies
• Reducing the burden of duplicated and overly onerous reporting for organisations in South Australia, as the first state to have signed up to the national framework
• Establishing a nationally consistent regulatory framework for reporting on financial and other regulatory information
• Providing a focus for developing a shared framework for principles of governance across the sector
• Contributing important and unparalleled information about the size, scope and activities of charities in Australia.

“The great efforts of many in the sector, in Government and in Parliament will be worthwhile if we can achieve the outcome of establishing a national regulatory framework and improving the burden of unnecessary red tape that diverts charitable community services from their vital work,” said Dr Goldie.

“The next areas that are critical for the success of this reform are the establishment of principles-based governance standards that are supported by the sector; and national harmonisation, through continuing work with other states and territories, so that the benefits of the ACNC are shared with all charities in the country."

ACOSS Media Contact:  0419 626 155

Radical redesign coupled with increase in low payments needed for broken employment services

30 October 2012

Peak community welfare organisations today backed a plan by Jobs Australia to design and model an improved employment services system, adding that a redesign of the broken system needs to be coupled with a $50 increase in single Allowance payments which have fallen well below the poverty line. 

The Australian Council of Social Service and National Welfare Rights Network are supporting the move by the peak employment services body, Jobs Australia, to invest significant funds to redesign a more workable model for a job-matching system that is more effective in getting unemployed people trained and ready to take up jobs.

"We know there is widespread concern that the current system is failing many unemployed people, especially younger people, migrant Australians, older workers, those with disabilities, and people who are experiencing homelessness. We need to work closer with business to better skill and match people into jobs, and adapt the system to the structural changes taking place in the Australian economy," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Improved employment services, in addition to a $50 increase for all single unemployed people on the Newstart Allowance, are essential elements of the policy response that will assist Australian's back into the workforce. There has not been a real increase in the Newstart Allowance for almost two decades.

"Minister Shorten got it right when he said that living on just $35 a day was ‘an incredibly difficult ask'. The Newstart Allowance payment structure does not work well for a highly casualised labour market and for people with disabilities and single parents.

"The current Job Services Australia system doesn't encourage investment in people unemployed long term, who have only a 50 per cent chance of finding work without further assistance. For instance, job providers only receive between $500 and $1,100 to invest in training and work experience for this group," Dr Goldie said.

Maree O'Halloran, President of the National Welfare Rights Network said, "Improved outcomes for disadvantaged job seekers requires a greater investment in intensive case management, basic skills training and work experience. It also requires better integration between support programs and health, housing and social services generally.

"Access to effective and responsive employment assistance is critical for individuals well-being and the overall prosperity of the nation. We need a better system which engages and motivates job seekers to take up opportunities for education and training, to build skills and overcome disadvantage," Ms O'Halloran said.

"The system is too unresponsive to the needs and aspirations of job seekers and employers, too bogged down in administrative rules. Unemployed people get two days to choose a provider, and this time-frame is not conducive to informed or effective choices. The system should be designed to serve its consumers, unemployed and employers, not simply to follow rules.

"High levels of staff turnover by employment consultants, limited professional development, issues around job satisfaction and unmanageable caseloads all impact on the quality of assistance to help unemployed people into employment," Ms O'Halloran said.

Both ACOSS and National Welfare Rights Network have long called for greater investment in employment assistance for people unemployed long-term, and expansion of wage subsidy schemes and place-based programs for people who are most disadvantaged in the labour market, and the earmarking of training places.

Dr Cassandra Goldie said, "Ultimately we all need to work together to build a system that truly works and is effective in including people currently locked out of the jobs market. A system that doesn't drive people into poverty through unacceptably low income support payments as they are preparing to re-enter the workforce. One that is much simpler to understand and navigate, that isn't hamstrung by so much burdensome red-tape, and that successfully assists some of the most disadvantaged people in our community into paid work."

Media Contacts:
Fernando de Freitas (ACOSS) - 0419 626 155
Gerard Thomas (NWRN) - 0425 296 882

Resources for journalists
Jobs Australia's 2015 Project
ACOSS Factsheet: Employment Participation
Towards more efficient and responsive employment services: ACOSS submission to APESAA
$35 a day is not enough! campaign

National community sector meeting calls for certainty on homelessness funding

30 October 2012

The nations' peak Councils of Social Service have called for a clear Federal Government announcement on future funding for chronically under-funded homelessness services in Australia during a national meeting in Perth today.

The future of the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) remains uncertain despite a positive report from the Western Australian Auditor General on the programs success in this State and amid growing housing pressures.

"With almost one in ten households nationally experiencing housing stress, and with over 105,000 people homeless in Australia on any given night, the demand for secure affordable housing continues to rise," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of ACOSS today.

"The uncertainty of ongoing funding of homelessness programs must be addressed. Secure housing is often the greatest barrier to achieving sustainable outcomes for people with complex needs, including those escaping trauma or facing mental health problems and the cost to society of homelessness is often greater than the provision of housing," Dr Goldie said.

"The first State Auditor General's report to be released on the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (from WA) has highlighted how successful the program has been to date, and we anticipate that other States will be delivering similar results," said Irina Cattalini, CEO of WACOSS.

The NPAH expires on 30 June 2013 and the future of the program beyond this date remains uncertain, with no commitment to date for ongoing funding from the Commonwealth. Federal Housing Minister Brendan O'Connor indicated at the last COAG meeting in Perth that they could not commit to maintaining the current level of funding.

The COSS Directors are calling for a clear announcement on future funding at the meeting of the Select Council of Ministers in Brisbane on the NPAH on 16th November.

Forty-one not-for-profit community organisations have been working in WA with the Department of Child Protection to deliver homelessness support services in WA as part of the $135 million 4 year program.

"The uncertainty of ongoing funding creates problems for these services, with staff in the equivalent of 110 full-time positions likely to begin searching for ongoing and more secure employment," said Ms Cattalini.

Other states and territories are facing similar risks if funding commitments are not entered into soon.

"The consequences of cutting funding to these programs are likely to be significant nationally, but the housing pressures are particularly high in WA, as rapid population and economic growth continue to make housing unaffordable and cost of living pressures increase the financial stress on low income households," she said.

The Western Australian Auditor General's report on the NPAH in WA highlighted the shortfall in available housing as a significant barrier to achieving long-term outcomes, noting that it was ultimately not possible to determine whether the program had succeeded in its target of reducing homelessness numbers by seven percent because of the broader economic circumstances of population growth and a lack of affordable housing.

Losing these homelessness support services will simply result in greater pressures and greater costs elsewhere, particularly in acute care settings and hospital emergency departments.

A recent national study by Prof Eileen Baldry (UNSW) looking at the life course of 11 people with mental health disorders and cognitive disability who cycle in and out of homelessness indicated the cost throughout their life of contact with housing, health, community services and justice agencies to be between $900,000 and $5.5 million each.

The Australian Community Sector Survey released by ACOSS in August found that nearly 3 in 5 respondents listed housing as a ‘high need' service, with 81% saying they could not meet service demand and 20,496 people (56 per day) turned away from the services surveyed.

Cassandra Goldie ACOSS
Irina Cattalini WACOSS
Mark Henley QCOSS
Alison Peters NCOSS
Tony Reidy TASCOSS
Penny Wilson VCOSS
Roslyn Dundas ACTCOSS
Ross Womersley SACOSS
Wendy Morton NTCOSS
Andrew Hogan St Bartholomew's House

Media Contacts
Irina Cattalini, CEO, WACOSS - 0422 422 438 or 9420 7222
Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, ACOSS - 0419 626 155 (Media Contact)

Budget cuts needed to clear the decks for NDIS, dental care and other priorities

22 October 2012

ACOSS has today welcomed cuts to poorly targeted programs as essential to make way for spending in key priorities like support for people with disabilities and national dental care.

"Changes to the Private Health Insurance rebate and the Fringe Benefits Tax exemptions are key steps to make room for higher priorities such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme and dental care for people on low incomes," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie. "The extra resources for the ATO to combat tax cheats are also a welcome increase." she said.

"Over most of the last decade, as tax revenues poured in from the economic boom, much of the proceeds were spent on poorly targeted programs. As Treasury warns that the “Government revenue boom” is over, it’s vital that these poorly targeted and wasteful programs are trimmed to make room for higher priorities including the NDIS; investment in social housing to ease the housing crisis; and improvements in Government benefits and employment services to ease poverty.

"It’s hard to justify generous benefits like the Private Health Insurance rebate and tax breaks for people on high incomes when one in eight people and one in six children are living below the poverty line, the Newstart Allowance is only $35 a day, and people on low and modest incomes are struggling with extreme housing costs. That’s also why ACOSS has called for increases to fringe benefits tax for in-house corporate benefits.

"As the population ages and the cost of essential health and aged care services grows, more will have to be done to rein in the cost of tax breaks for superannuation and other tax benefits for older people on above-average incomes. The MYEFO reports that superannuation tax breaks will cost $32billion in 2012-13, about the same as the Age Pension. Governments will have to decide whether it’s fairer to charge older people for essential health and aged care services or to fund these services by taxing those have the ability to pay. Due to various special tax breaks for older people, the tax threshold for a couple over 65 is over $50,000 and people who are financially well off are able to avoid tax by churning their wages through their superannuation accounts.

"ACOSS is concerned that $150 million has been underspent on Job Services Australia services and employment services. JSA providers receive just $500 to $1,100 a year to help a long-term unemployed person improve their job prospects with training or work experience. These savings should be reinvested in employment services for long term unemployed people, for example by expanding the wage subsidies announced in last year’s budget.

"ACOSS accepts the need to reduce the cost of the poorly designed Baby Bonus but would prefer to see the savings invested in better family payments for parents struggling on low incomes. Given the Baby Bonus reforms will be introduced in 1 July 2013, we are looking to see what will be done for families on low incomes through the family payment system in the May Budget, to ensure they won’t be worse off.

"ACOSS opposed the decision in 2009 to remove the indexation of family payments to wages. Full indexation of family payments should be restored to reduce the one in six children living in poverty. Similarly, the poorly targeted Child Care Rebate should be combined with the Child Care Benefit as the Henry report recommended. Savings from benefits that go disproportionately to high income families could be used to alleviate the shortage of affordable child care for low and middle income families, especially for children under 3 years old," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: 0419 626 155

One in eight people living in poverty in Australia: new report

13 October 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has today released a new report showing poverty in Australia remains a persistent problem with an estimated 2,265,000 people or 12.8% of all people living below the internationally accepted poverty line used to measure financial hardship in wealthy countries.

The report provides the most comprehensive picture of poverty in the nation since 2006 and shows that people who are unemployed, children (especially in lone parent families), and people whose main source of income is social security payments, are the groups most at risk of poverty.

"This report reveals that despite years of unprecedented growth and wealth creation, we have made little ground in combatting the scourge of poverty with 1 in 8 people overall and 1 in 6 children living below the poverty line," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"In a wealthy country like Australia, this is simply inexcusable.

"Over a third (37%) of people whose main income is social security is living below the poverty line, including 52% of people in households on Newstart Allowance. The low level of this payment means that when unemployment goes up as it did last month, more people are thrown into poverty. The Newstart Allowance has not been increased in real terms since 1994 so households relying on it have been falling further behind community living standards and into poverty.

"Two thirds of people on Newstart have been unemployed for more than a year and they clearly need more help than they are getting now from employment services. The Government only funds Job Services Australia providers an average of $500 to $1,100 a year to invest in training and work experience for this group.

"The report also shows that there are almost 600,000 children living in families below the poverty line. About half of those children are in sole parent families, and one quarter of people in sole parent families are living below the poverty line.

"This makes the Federal Government's recent cuts to payments for sole parents all the more disturbing. Under the changes passed in the Senate last week over 100,000 sole parents on the Parenting Payment will be between $60 and $100 a week poorer from January 2013 when those with children over eight years of age are dropped to the lower Newstart Allowance.

"On the other hand the $32 per week increase in pensions (above inflation) in 2009 appears to have reduced poverty among older people (which is 13.2% for people over 64), though the single pension rate was still slightly below the poverty line. Unfortunately the increase to the Age and Disability Support Pensions was not extended to sole parents on the Parenting Payment and people on Newstart Allowance, which is an alarming $74pw below the poverty line.

"We urge the Commonwealth and state governments to take steps in their next Budgets to reduce poverty, by increasing income support for those in the deepest poverty, strengthening employment services for long-term unemployed people, and easing the high cost of housing for people on low incomes who rent privately.

"High priority should be given in the next Federal Budget to raising the Newstart Allowance by $50 per week for single people and sole parents, and the cuts to income support for sole parents should be reversed or at least delayed.

"Paid work is a key pathway out of poverty, and we need to see more investment in wage subsidies and training for people who are long term unemployed to make a difference to their job prospects. This should be implemented to stop recent increases in unemployment from becoming entrenched.

"To tackle poverty we also need urgent action to ease housing cost pressures, particularly for low income people who are renting privately. People on social security and those in very low paid work receive Rent Assistance to help with housing costs, but at a maximum of $70 a week this is less than a third of typical rents for flats in capital cities and mining towns.

"At the start of Anti-Poverty Week, ACOSS is calling on the Federal Government to finally commit to a national development goal to reduce poverty in Australia. Prominent Australians such as Professor Fiona Stanley, Ms Janet Holmes a Court, philanthropist David Morawetz, The Reverend Tim Costello, and many others are joining us in this call. We need an agreed measure of poverty, such as the Australian National Development Index, and we need to annually measure our progress towards reducing poverty.

"It is simply unacceptable that so many people are still going without the basics and the sorts of opportunities the rest of us take for granted. A wealthy country such as ours can and should do better to ensure that everyone is afforded an adequate standard of living. It is a fundamental human right," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

DOWNLOAD REPORT PDF

Access Poverty in Australia Report online in HTML

Key findings:

• 2,265,000 people (12.8%) were living below the poverty line
• 575,000 children or 17.3% were living below the poverty line
• 63% of people in unemployed households were below the poverty line
• 25% of people in lone parent households were below the 50% poverty line
• 37% of people in households whose main income was social security were living below the poverty line
• Among people in households where the main income earner received the following payments, the following proportions lived below the poverty line, after taking account of housing costs:
  • Newstart Allowance, 52%
  • Parenting Payment, 45%
  • Disability Support Pension, 42%
  • Carer Payment 24%
  • Age Pension, 14%
• 62% of people below the poverty line came from households with social security as their main source of income, but a sizeable minority (29%) were in households with wages as the main income source. This 29% figure is due to the higher number of wage-earning households overall. It is likely that most of these people live in households where people receive part time earnings only, or are raising children on a low wage
• 14% of women were below the poverty line compared to 12% of men
• 54% of people living in households below the poverty line were female compared to 46% male
• 26% of adults living in households below the 50% poverty line came from a non English-speaking country
• The level of poverty was higher (13.1%) outside capital cities than in capital cities (12.6%)
• The proportion of people in poverty rose by approximately a third of a percentage point from 2003 to 2010 but it is difficult to compare poverty levels over the long term due to changes in the various ABS surveys.

About the research

This research was conducted for us by Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. The data source is the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Income and Expenditure surveys for 2009-10 and previous years. The poverty line is calculated as a proportion of the disposable income of a ‘middle income' (median) household. The report uses the austere 50% measure, but also makes a comparison at the higher 60% measure used in Britain, Ireland and the European Union. The research takes into account people's housing costs as well as their incomes by deducting average housing costs (rents, mortgage payments and rates) from the relevant poverty line and deducting each household's housing costs from their incomes.

Major report to reveal poverty is too high in Australia

12 October 2012

MEDIA ALERT

Who: Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, ACOSS, and representatives from St Vincent de Paul Society, Anglicare Australia, and Salvation Army

When: 11.30am Sunday 14 October 2012

Where: Cabramatta Community Centre, Corner Railway Parade and McBurney Road Cabramatta NSW - See Map >>

Major report to reveal poverty is persistent and too high in Australia

The Australian Council of Social Service will release the most comprehensive report on poverty in Australia since 2006 at the start of Anti-Poverty Week on Sunday October 14, 2012.

The report will identify the number of people living in poverty in the country with state and capital city breakdowns. It will also reveal the risk groups and profile of people living below the internationally accepted poverty line of 50% of the median disposable household income.

Media outlets and journalists are encouraged to attend the press conference which will be led by ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

Also present will include:
- Dr David Morawetz, Philanthropist and key supporter of the Poverty Report
- Kasy Chambers, Executive Director, Anglicare Australia
- Julie McDonald, General Manager, Community and Corporate Relations, St Vincent de Paul Society
- Envoy Ronda McIntyre, Territorial Community Services/Doorways Co-ordinator, The Salvation Army
- Alison Peters, Director, Council of Social Service NSW 
- Other representatives of Australia's community welfare sector

Media contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

NOTE TO EDITORS: Reporters and film crews are advised to arrive early to set up, and kindly advise fernando@acoss.org.au of your intention to attend.

The Report will be made available online after the launch on the www.acoss.or.au website at around 1.30pm AEST on Sunday 14th October 2012.

No Budget surplus on the back of single parents and their children!

8 October 2012

MEDIA ALERT

Who: Cassandra Goldie, CEO, ACOSS, and Terese Edwards, CEO, National Council of Single Mothers & their Children
Press conference and rally by single mothers groups

When: 11am Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Where: Lawn in front of Parliament House, Canberra

No Budget surplus on the back of single parents and their children!

Leading welfare voices will come together on Tuesday to protest against the Federal Government's decision to press ahead with damaging cuts to the payments of more than 100,000 single parents in defiance of two separate Committee recommendations.

The Commonwealth Government intends to push the legislation through the Senate tomorrow despite its own Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and the the Senate Standing Committees on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations recommending a delay until the end of the Inquiry into the adequacy of income support payments is complete in late November 2012.

"This is simply unacceptable and we urge our federal representatives on all sides of politics to oppose the unjust plan to slash between $60 and $100 from sole parents and their children at a time when they are doing it tough," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"This is not the right way to achieve a Budget surplus, on the back of sole parents and their children. It's cruel and unfair, especially for the children that will be severely affected!"

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Find out more about the campaign to Stop Cuts to Sole Parent Payments!

Welfare groups and human rights lawyers appeal to UN to prevent damaging sole parent payment cuts

5 October 2012

Leading Australian community welfare groups and human rights experts have sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights to prevent the Commonwealth Government from pressing ahead with damaging cuts to the parenting payments of over 100, 000 single parents and their children.

The Australian Council of Social Service, St Vincent de Paul Society, National Council for Single Mothers and their Children, WEAVE (Women Everywhere Advocating Violence Elimination) Council for Single Mothers and their Children Victoria, Women's Legal Services NSW and the Human Rights Law Centre today sent an urgent communication to UN Special Rapporteur Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmon over the Federal Government's decision to bring on legislation in the Senate next week, against the advice of two separate Parliamentary Committees.

The legislation will mean an effective Budget cut of between $60 and $100 a week for these sole parents by pushing them onto the lower paying Newstart Allowance when their child turns eight years of age.

Only last month the newly established Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights advised the government to delay the Bill citing major reservations, including that:

• If Newstart combined with other benefits is not sufficient to provide an adequate standard of living for affected individuals, the measures risk being a violation of human rights under article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.
• The Committee was not yet convinced that the affected single parents would be able to maintain access to appropriate levels of social security support if placed onto Newstart.
• As a result, it would be premature for the government to introduce these measures prior to the completion of the Newstart Inquiry.

"This was an historic finding in Australia, which recognises the human right to social security and an adequate standard of living. It was also the Human Rights Committee's first ever recommendation," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"The Government's decision to press on regardless is simply unnacceptable and brings into questions its own Human Rights Framework, of which the new Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights was to be a primary protective mechanism.

"If the Bill passes the Federal Parliament, it will place more than 100, 000 single parents, and all of their children into even greater risk of poverty and homelessness. This will start happening from 1 January, just 10 weeks away, at the worst time of the year for struggling families," Dr Goldie said.

See letter to United Nations Special Rapporteur Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmon >>

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Find out more about the campaign to Stop Cuts to Sole Parent Payments!

Mind the Gap: People on Newstart falling further behind

20 September 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service is urging the Federal Government to move to index allowance payments such as Newstart to wage movements to prevent people from falling into worsening poverty.

"Today is indeed a good day for more than 3.5 million Australian pensioners who will receive a boost to their payments to help them keep up with the cost of living. But people living on allowance payments like Newstart remain the forgotten ones, and left to live on as little as $35 a day," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Whereas people on the Age Pension, Carer Payment and adult Disability Support Pension, as well as veteran income support recipients, will receive an extra $9 a week from today, those on Newstart Allowance - who are already living on significantly less - will only receive an extra $1 a week.

"This increases the ‘poverty gap' between pensions and Newstart even further to $140 per week. This is because pensions are indexed to wages as well as the Consumer Price Index, whereas allowances are only pegged to the CPI. The CPI clearly does not reflect the real community cost of living which we know is affecting people on these lowest incomes the worst.

"Since the pension was increased in 2009, pension payments have risen by $50 a week compared to just $18 a week increase to allowances due to the different indexation. The gap between the two payments has grown by $32 a week over three years, or $10 per week per year. At this rate the Newstart Allowance will be worth just half the pension rate by 2030.

"People on Newstart Allowance cannot meet their daily living expenses on $35 a day and Rent Assistance payments of up to $60 a week for singles only cover a fraction of today's rents. People can't search for jobs and train on that income.

"Those on allowance payments are one of the largest groups to turn to charities and community groups for financial help, which is placing a great strain on services.

"We need to lift the rate for single people by $50 per week to help close this gap. We strongly support the Australian Greens motion put forward in the Senate today calling for the Government to reform indexation of allowances as a matter of urgency. We also trust the federal government will listen to the weight of powerful evidence put forward by as many as 70 submissions to the current Senate Inquiry which is due to report in November," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Find out more about the $35 a day is not enough! campaign >>

Editorial: Fruitless search for jobless who can live on $35 a day - by Cassandra Goldie and Maree O'Halloran in National Times, Thursday September 6, 2012

Increases in pensions and allowances since 2009 ($pw)
	pension	allowance	gap
Mar-09	$284.90	$226.65	$  58.25
Sep-09	$336.00	$228.00	$107.95
Sep-12	$386.30	$246.30	$140.00
Increases in $
Increase in Sept 12	$  17.10	$     2.90	$  14.20
Increase since Sept 09	$  50.40	$  18.30	$  32.05
Increase since Mar 09	$101.40	$  19.65	$  81.75

 

 

Community sector applauds proposal to legislate to ban gag-clauses

19 September 2012

The peak body of Australia's community welfare sector, ACOSS, today applauded moves by the Federal Government to legislate to ban gag-clauses in Commonwealth contracts with the community and not for profit sector. 

"The community sector plays a vital role in Australian society, both assisting people who are disadvantaged and vulnerable in our community and being active participants in public debates. A strong, independent civil society is essential to a functioning democracy. Preventing groups from speaking out on the basis of funding is an anathema to being an independent non-government organisation," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Gag-clauses in contracts are an attack on the legitimate role of civil society organisations and clearly diminish our capacity to represent and advocate for the people that we are here to assist. It has no place in a free modern society such as ours.

"ACOSS had recommended this reform be included as part of the establishment of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission. We urge the government to move quickly to legislate this protection as part of the over package of reforms currently before parliament. We look forward to seeing the detail of the proposal, and the legislation passed as soon as possible so this new regulator is up and running on 1 October as planned," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

ACOSS submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee and the Corporations and Public Administration Joint Standing Committee reviews of the ACNC Bill and consequential amendments.

Community sector directors ‘overwhelmingly’ back Not For Profit regulator

17 September 2012

The peak national and state and territory bodies for Australia's community welfare sector, today put their full support behind the establishment of a national regulator for the not-for-profit sector, adding that they are hopeful the historic legislation will pass parliament this week.

"The creation of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission is the culmination of a long process and has broad support from the community and social services sector," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"It's true to say there were concerns that the legislation before parliament did not go far enough to ensure red tape is reduced and financial reporting improved. Many of the sector's concerns have since been taken on board and substantial improvements made. These previous concerns are captured in a report released today by the Australian Institute of Company Directors, which we believe reflects the situation prior to those improvements.

"The COSS network has stated that we would like to see the legislation strengthened even further to ensure the regulatory burden is reduced and the independence of the new body is protected. We continue to work with government, minor parties and independents on the final amendments to the legislation so the ACNC can start on schedule by 1 October. The reality is that there is overwhelming positive sentiment in our sector for the ACNC and its time we got on with it," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

This statement is supported by:
ACT Council of Social Service
Council of Social Service of NSW
QLD Council of Social Service
NT Council of Social Service
SA Council of Social Service
TAS Council of Social Service
VIC Council of Social Service

ACOSS submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee and the Corporations and Public Administration Joint Standing Committee reviews of the ACNC Bill and consequential amendments.

Community Sector supports NFP regulator and wants legislation ‘strengthened’

13 September 2012

The peak body for Australia's community welfare sector, ACOSS, and the National Roundtable of Nonprofit Organisations today reaffirmed their support for the establishment of a national regulator for the not-for-profit sector and wants the legislation before federal parliament to be strengthened so ‘red-tape' is reduced and the independence of the new body is enhanced.

"ACOSS has been a firm supporter of the creation of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and has been working closely as part of the ACNC taskforce. It's important that legislation is passed as soon as possible so the new body can get up and running and begin the important work of improving the regulatory environment for our vital sector," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie. 

"We welcome the findings of the Senate Community Affairs Committee report tabled yesterday. In particular, we welcome recommendations from the Australian Greens for amendments that would improve the Bill before it is passed, and urge the Government to give those recommendations due consideration.

"We believe that the commitment to the independence of the sector needs to be strengthened in the current Bill to ensure that the independence of a not-for-profit organisation is protected and not undermined by the government of the day. Some of our other concerns include, the introduction and governance of external conduct standards, the timeframe for red tape reductions and the interaction between the Commonwealth and states over the development of a ‘charities passport' where organisations can report once to the ACNC rather than multiple times to different departments and governments." 

David Thompson, Chair of the Roundtable agreed. "There is significant work ahead to truly lead to a reduction in reporting requirements currently placing an enormous burden on the sector. Importantly, we need the states and territories to come on-board once the ACNC is created so we can get the best reduction in red tape. 

"The work our sector is engaged in is far too important for divisions over the establishment of a national regulatory body. We need to work together across the political spectrum and state and territory jurisdictions to get the best possible outcome, and the best possible framework for the operation of such a regulator," Mr Thompson said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155 

ACOSS submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee and the Corporations and Public Administration Joint Standing Committee reviews of the ACNC Bill and consequential amendments.

First-ever Gender Audit shows Community Sector leading the way in leadership roles for women

12 September 2012

The first ever study of gender diversity in Australia's community welfare sector shows the participation of women on boards and senior management positions is higher than in other sectors, but still has some way to go to achieve true gender equality, especially in organisations with larger turnovers. 

The landmark gender audit of Australia's not-for-profit community sector - a collaboration between YWCA Australia, the Australian Council of Social Service and Women on Boards - found women occupy 51% of all board director roles and 60% of senior management positions. 

"Clearly there is a good news story here. Our sector is doing much better than others. However, this shouldn't be surprising given that women actually make up about 85% of the community sector's workforce," said Dr Caroline Lambert, Executive Director, YWCA Australia. 

"With such an overwhelming female presence, it's reasonable to expect that the sector should in fact be doing a lot better in terms of women in leadership positions - for example, only 31% of the organisations reported female Treasurers. It's also concerning that women are over represented on the boards of smaller organisations but overtaken by men in organisations with turnovers of $30 million or more. 

"This may be linked to the under-representation of women on boards generally - women may be less likely to consider moving to boards of organisations with higher turnovers in other sectors. It shows that larger organisations still have some work to do in the area of gender equality," Dr Lambert said. 

Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, ACOSS, said, ‘It is extremely pleasing to see our sector leading the way in gender equity in leadership roles in Australia. The number of women on boards is particularly high among younger age groups, which shows the cultural shift that's taking place at the highest levels of our workplace. 

"For instance, 76% of board roles held by people aged 18-30 are occupied by women, who also hold 80% of all senior management positions in the same age group. That number is almost as high for those aged 31-40 but then drops off and reverses for those aged over 65, where men occupy 67% of board roles and 55% of senior management positions. 

"However, it is important to remember that most of this contribution is unpaid, in stark contrast to often highly remunerated non-executive director roles in the for profit sector.

"Our findings highlight the need for a consistent effort and strategies to improve gender diversity in the workplace beyond what's already happening, because clearly there's still much work to be done," Dr Goldie said. 

Ruth Medd, Chair, Women on Boards, said, ‘Senior roles are not only where the big decisions are made but also where the biggest salaries are earned, and it's clear that even in the most female dominated sector, these roles are still predominantly held by men in larger organisations with greater revenue. 

"As well as having consequences for women's economic security later in life, the bottom line of organisations may also be affected, with previous research showing organisations with women directors deliver an average return on investment over three years 10.7% higher than those without. 

"We need continued effort led by governments and organisations to make gender diversity a key priority. This is highlighted by our finding that the greatest number of respondents never consider gender in their hiring decision, either for Board (30%) or for Senior Management positions (39%). It is also alarming that only 24% of organisations with 101-200 staff reported to the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA), despite their obligations here. This strengthens the case for the beefing up of the EOWA to increase reporting," Ms Medd said. 

Dr Lambert, Executive Director, YWCA Australia concluded, "In preparing this study we have been struck by the lack of data on gender diversity in the leadership of the community sector. With the establishment of the Australian Charities and NFP Commission there is an opportunity to address the gender inequality in the sector and gather more data on these factors. This survey has allowed us to shine a light on the issue, and hopefully create a springboard for further change."

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155 

DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE >>

About the survey 
The survey was distributed electronically via YWCA Australia, ACOSS and WOB networks. All survey data was collected between 16 November 2011 and 12 December 2011. We received a total of 746 responses from organisations across the country - 662 identified as NFPs, 77 from non-NFP organisations, and 7 gave no response to the question. The majority of respondents work in the sectors of health (29%), education (24%), youth work (24%), women (23%) and disability (19%). 

Newstart comparisons ‘misleading’

10 September 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service today rejected as misleading a comparison in a Federal Government submission which has resulted in media reports stating that people on Newstart with children receive more money than the minimum wage.

The Government Departments' submission to the Senate Inquiry wrongly implies that the overall ‘package' of income support available to families with children, when you include supplementary payments such as Family Tax Benefits and Rent Assistance, is more than they would get on the minimum wage.

"This comparison is misleading because it ignores the fact that families on a single fulltime minimum wage also receive the same supplementary payments as an unemployed family, which means they actually have 10% to 25% more income, not less," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Any comparison of the incomes of unemployed and minimum wage-earning families that ignores this is highly misleading.

"This comparison has led to some media reports that couples on Newstart with children are receiving $300 above the minimum wage. This is factually correct but misleading and belittles the enormous struggle of people trying to live on Newstart payments, especially if they are also raising children.

"Supplements are only paid to people facing extra costs such as children and private rents, and in most cases they do not cover those costs. The facts are that:
• A single adult on Newstart Allowance gets $245 a week ($35 a day),
• If that person rents privately they get up to another $60 a week but the rent for a one bedroom flat is typically more than $150 in most major cities.
• If they have 2 primary school age children they get another $250 dollars but that's hardly enough to raise 2 children on your own.

"Some people on Newstart Allowance also receive minor supplements such as the $3 per week Pharmaceutical Supplement, but the reality is that they miss out on many of the larger supplements pensioners get: they don't for example receive the $30 per week Pension Supplement or the $10 per week Utility Allowance, and very few receive the $31 Pensioner Education Supplement.

"Try as people might to twist the figures, the cold hard fact is that single people on Newstart Allowance are living in poverty and are even worse off than minimum wage earners. The gap between Newstart Allowance for single people or sole parents and the income they would get on the minimum wage is around $150 to $200 a week, even for those receiving Rent Assistance and family payments.

"There is widespread acknowledgement that the single rate of Newstart is simply not enough for people to live on and needs to be increased by at least $50 a week to help lift them out of worsening poverty and into a position to get into paid work.

"Media reports about couples on Newstart are a diversion that's not relevant to our push for a $50 increase in payments for single people and sole parents.

"It's time we moved away from demeaning and divisive arguments of the ‘deserving' and ‘underserving' and got on with the job of assisting people in the greatest need from slipping further into the margins," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 6261 55

ACOSS applauds major reform to nationally coordinated dental care

29 August 2012

ACOSS has applauded today's dental announcement by the Federal Government and welcomed its dual focus on children and on those adults most disadvantaged in access to appropriate dental care.

"Today's announcement secures adequate dental care for two-thirds of the children in Australia, many of whom would go without regular dental care otherwise. We are delighted the Government has recognised how crucial it is to establish and maintain good oral health from childhood by establishing an entitlement to access adequate and timely care," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.

ACOSS also welcomes the commitment to meet the oral health needs of adults experiencing poverty and inequality who have gone without dental care for too long. "By ensuring affordable appropriate and timely dental care for people on the aged or disability pension and all those with a health care card, this reform establishes the policies and funding mechanisms to reduce a major area of health inequality in Australia," Dr Goldie said.

"Many people on low incomes have been forced to rely on an over-stretched and under-resourced public dental system and have suffered terrible pain and deteriorating oral health as a result. This agreement will ensure that not only are public dental waiting lists addressed, but people on low incomes are able to access the routine and preventive treatment that everyone needs to ensure healthy mouths and lives."

Deputy CEO Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine, who was a member of the National Advisory Council on Dental Health stated, "ACOSS has long-championed the importance of a national approach to dental care that recognises how critical good oral health is, not just for general health but for social and economic participation.

"We hear often from people too embarrassed to go to job interviews or engage with their communities because of their teeth. That's why we have been calling for many years for access to a basic course of treatment every two years as a minimum standard of oral health for everyone in Australia. This reform will be foundational in improving the oral health of the population through a significant entitlement to children, without leaving behind those adults who for too long have missed out on adequate dental care.

"We cannot improve our nation's oral health without addressing the distribution of the oral health and allied workforce, including dentists, dental therapists and dental hygienists and health therapists. Equally important is national leadership of sustained investments in oral health promotion. Today's announcement establishes a policy framework and sustained funding to address both.

"We will also see that the excellent work already being done in some states and territories through child and public dental systems will be sustained across Australia. The recognition of an entitlement to good dental care is a major breakthrough for those millions of Australians, some 40%, who have been going without adequate, appropriate and timely dental care.

"But no amount of federal funding can address Australia's gaping oral health gaps without state and territory governments maintaining, and in some cases improving their investment in oral. We call on all governments to work together to ensure Australia at last can build a national oral health system," Dr Boyd-Caine concluded.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

New report further proof that Newstart and other Allowances must be lifted

27 August 2012

The peak body for Australia's community welfare sector, ACOSS, says a new report released today by major Church Providers is further proof that Allowances such as Newstart are now so low it's leaving people in worsening poverty and severely limiting their chances to find paid work. 

The NATSEM report commissioned by ACOSS members Anglicare Australia, Catholic Social Services Australia, The Salvation Army and UnitingCare Australia, highlights what groups have been saying for a long time - namely that single people living alone and single parents on Newstart or Youth Allowance in particular face much greater financial hardship than others on government benefits and the general population.

"We know that Newstart Allowance has not been increased in real terms for nearly two decades and has been falling behind other pensions because its indexed to prices not wages. As this new report ‘Going Without: Financial Hardship in Australia' illustrates, this is causing enormous hardship and leaving people in worsening levels of debt and poverty," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, ACOSS CEO.

"The findings dispel the myth that Allowances like Newstart have to be kept low as an incentive to get unemployed people into work. The opposite is the actually true. $35 a day is simply not enough to live on, and makes it near impossible to assist people to get to interviews and prepare themselves to find work.

"The paltry payments are clearly inadequate to cover the most basic costs of living in Australia, which we know continues to go up, while Newstart has effectively been frozen in time.

"In our submission to the current Senate Inquiry into the adequacy of income support system, ACOSS points out that a single adult on Newstart more than doubles their after tax income if they obtain a fulltime job paid at the minimum wage. There is no question of dissentive if you raise Newstart to allow people a descent liveable existence whilst they look for work - you actually improve their chances of doing so.

"Everyone accepts that the best outcome for unemployed people is to get meaningful, long-term work. This is precisely the reason why we have called for increased supports to better prepare people back into paid work.

"The current Inquiry represents an opportunity to finally deal with this issue and we hope the Federal Government will do the right thing by unemployed people in Australia and increase Allowances by at least $50 a week," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

See ACOSS submission: ‘Surviving, not living'

Senate Employment Committee on the adequacy of ‘allowance' payments. Find out more >>

A copy of the report is available at Going Without: Financial Hardship in Australia

National Anti-Racism Strategy a call to action for us all

24 August 2012

Australia's peak community welfare body, ACOSS, has put its strong support behind the National Anti-Racism Strategy launched in Melbourne today by the Australian Human Rights Commission, alongside key ministers and many other major organisational backers of the important campaign.

Attending the launch, ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said the National Anti-Racism Strategy is timely and an important opportunity to shine the light on a much neglected aspect of our nation's cultural fabric.

"We know that there has been less resistance in recent years to name racism for what it is or even use the word ‘racism' in national debate, as if it doesn't exist. Despite the fact that Australia is a very tolerant country, there is no doubt that many people still feel and experience racism in their daily lives.

"And then of course there's the unfinished business of the persistent negative perceptions and racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.

"The ‘Racism. It Stops with Me' campaign launched as part of this National Anti-Racism Strategy provides all of us with the opportunity to talk about this issue again and confront it whenever and wherever we see it.

"The strategy was developed after extensive consultations with hundreds of individuals and communities around the country and will focus on schools and higher education, the media, government service provision, workplaces and the internet.

"We understand that a recurring theme that resonated through the consultations was that in order to build a fair and inclusive community, we must all take action against all forms of racism, intolerance and prejudice when we witness it.

"We know that discriminating against others based on their cultural background is damaging and divisive. If we want to truly remain the ‘lucky country', with ‘fairness' at its heart - we must embrace and include everyone. We know how much richness migrant and newly arrived communities have brought to our country. We should celebrate this, value it, and keep it very much in mind in terms of our everyday relations, and when thinking about and treating newer cultural communities that join us.

"ACOSS is proud to be a key supporter and partner in this campaign, and we look forward to working alongside the Australian Human Rights Commission and all other supportive organisations, institutions and governments to ensure it is promoted and realised," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

More information on the National Anti-Racism Partnership and Strategy is available at:
itstopswithme.humanrights.gov.au

Committee report a chance to scrap cuts to single parent payments

23 August 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has welcomed a Senate Committee recommendation to delay the Federal Government legislation that would see the payments of over 100,000 single parents slashed from early 2013, adding that the breathing space should lead to the sensible reversal of the unnecessary and damaging plan.

"ACOSS has demonstrated in the recent Inquiry that the proposal to take as much as $60 a week out of the hands of some of the most struggling single parent families would have a severe impact on their ability to care and meet the needs of their children," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, ACOSS CEO.

"We described the move at the time as the only blight on an otherwise fair and balanced federal Budget. We don't think it was well thought out, and are pleased proper time will now be given for a serious evaluation of the impacts.

"We urge the Government to heed the recommendations in the Committee report, and do the right thing by single parents and their children by scraping the plan together.

"The majority report of the Committee rejected the argument that the cuts would help parents into paid work, and also dismissed the idea that placing all sole parents on the lowest payments was "fair". The Committee recommended that the Senate defer consideration of the Bill until the other important inquiry into the adequacy of payments including Newstart is completed at the end of the year.

"It also recommended deferral until the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has concluded its report, following an appeal from ACOSS on human rights grounds. In our letter to the Joint Committee on Human Rights, ACOSS stressed that in our view the Bill's intention to cease parenting payments when a single parent's youngest child turns 8 years old is a violation of human rights, as defined by the core United Nations treaties.

"On all these grounds ACOSS is of the firm view that the announced cuts cannot be supported and we urge the Government to use the Committee's recommended deferral as an opportunity to rethink the decision which has the potential to harm so many parents and their children," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

The Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee Inquiry Report here >>

Find out more about the proposed cuts and the ACOSS campaign here >>

Lift the 18-year freeze on Newstart payments: ACOSS call to Senate inquiry

22 August 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service, ACOSS, is urging the Commonwealth Government to raise low paying Allowances such as Newstart, which hasn't been increased in nearly 20 years, in-order to reduce worsening poverty and improve work incentives and the job prospects of unemployed people in Australia.

The call comes in the peak body's submission to a Senate Inquiry into the adequacy of ‘allowance' payments - ‘Surviving, not living' (Download here >>).

"The idea that unemployment payments have to be kept at $35 a day as a workforce incentive is a fallacy. Our submission shows that a single adult on Newstart more than doubles their after tax income if they obtain a fulltime job paid at the minimum wage," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, ACOSS.

"Newstart has been frozen at the same level in real terms since 1994, and it's time to bring the living standards of people who are unemployed, raising a child alone or studying with no other means of support, out of the freezer. They all missed out on the $32 increase to other social security payments including age pensions in 2008. Single people on Newstart now receive $133 per week less than the pension, and on current trends, by 2040 the single Newstart rate will be just half the pension.

"We've carefully assessed the living standards of people on allowance payments and by any measure they live in the deepest poverty. Less than one in five people on Newstart own their home so most have faced steep rent increases in the last five years. Over 40% could not afford to pay a utility bill on time in the last 12 months.

"The Henry Review Panel which included the then Secretaries of Treasury and the Families and Community Services department and a senior business leader recommended what amounts today to a $50 increase in the single rate of allowance payments. They would not have done so if there was a risk it would weaken work incentives. In fact the proposed increase would do little more than restore the payment's former value relative to minimum wages back in 1994 when it was last increased.

"Compared to a low paid fulltime job, the single rate of Newstart including Rent Assistance is the lowest unemployment payment in the OECD.

"Keeping payments for unemployed people below the poverty line won't improve their employment prospects or enable them to move to places where jobs are available. Instead, concerted policy action is needed to lift people's skills and address barriers such as lack of affordable housing, child care and flexible work.

"The evidence is clear, and that's why groups as diverse as the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, senior academics and politicians have joined Australia's community sector in the call for this modest increase.

"This Senate Inquiry represents an opportunity to deal with the unfinished business of the 2008 Pension Review and the 2009 Henry Review by endorsing the Henry Report's recommendation to raise Allowance payments for single people, as was done for pensioners.

"We also call for the Senate Committee to endorse the Henry Report recommendation to index Allowances to wages so the gap between allowances and pensions does not keep growing; and to simplify the income test for Newstart Allowance.

"ACOSS also recommends improvements in Job Services Australia assistance for the 60% of people on Newstart Allowance who are unemployed long-term, including an increase in the $500 the providers receive to assist them with training and work experience and expansion of the wage subsidy scheme for people unemployed over 2 years. People want to move from Newstart Allowance to paid work but they are not getting the help they need to do so.

"We welcome Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten's recent acknowledgement that $35 a day is not enough for people to live on, and look forward to a positive response from Government to the calls from a wide spectrum of the community to increase these payments," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

See ACOSS submission: ‘Surviving, not living'
Senate Employment Committee on the adequacy of ‘allowance' payments. Find out more >>

National ACOSS Board condemns return to offshore processing with risk of indefinite detention

17 August 2012

At a full Board meeting yesterday in Hobart, the Australian Council of Social Service expressed its grave concerns about the decision by the Australian Government to return to offshore processing for people arriving by sea to seek asylum in Australia.

The ACOSS board joins a growing number of Australian community and not-for-profit organisations and individuals across the country in expressing opposition to a significant number of the Expert Panel recommendations as they are now being implemented. We unanimously oppose the passage of any legislation which removes adequate legislative protections for people seeking asylum in Australia, and enables the Australian Government to return to offshore processing

Representing Australia's community and social services sector, the Board opposed the enactment of legislation or policy which will:

• Repeal the few human rights protections included in the offshore processing legislation passed in 2001.
• See any country designated for offshore processing, regardless of whether it is a party to the Refugee Convention.
• Punish asylum seekers who arrive by boat in breach of the Refugee Convention.
• Implement a return to assessing asylum applications in Nauru and Manus Island, ignoring past lessons regarding the mental health impacts of holding people indefinitely with limited freedom of movement.
• Facilitate the removal of child asylum seekers from Australia.
• Facilitate the transfer of unaccompanied minors who will have no guardian to act in their best interests, in breach of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Prevent IMAs (whatever their age) from proposing family members for the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP), creating greater incentive for families who want to stay together to travel by boat to Australia.
• Leave open the possibility that boats may be turned back in the future, contravening the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

The Board welcomed the recommendations which will increase Australia's annual humanitarian intake and additional options for family reunion for refugee and humanitarian entrants, and the greater focus on developing refugee protection options in South East Asia. These positive recommendations in the Expert Panel report must be legislated to ensure they are enshrined in law.

The Board affirmed its previous rejection of offshore processing, represented in a broad community sector statement signed by over 300 organisations in September 2011, opposing offshore processing and calling for community placement of people waiting decisions about their asylum applications.

Media Contact – 0419 626 155

For interviews with ACOSS President Simon Schrapel or CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie contact ACOSS Media, 0419 626 155

Economics Committee report welcome, now on to 1 October

16 August 2012

ACOSS has today welcomed the report by the House of Representatives Economics Committee into the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Bills 2012. ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said: ‘The Committee has listened carefully to what the sector has said and has made a series of important and sound recommendations to improve the Bill in the interests of more consistent and effective regulation for our sector, what this reform was always about’.

‘A number of the Committee’s recommendations are based on evidence from ACOSS and our members and we welcome this evidence of the weight the Committee has given to the sector’s concerns,’ said Dr Goldie. ‘This reform comes out of the recognition that our sector is overly regulated, but ineffectively regulated. The Committee’s recommendations support the explicit objective of reducing this overly burdensome ‘red tape’; while also re-enforcing the importance of a regulatory framework that is proportionate both to the size and scope of charities and not-for-profit organisations, and to the level of risk these organisations pose.’

ACOSS welcomes key recommendations including:

• That the objects of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Bill 2012 explicitly include the reduction of red tape;
• That the Government consider incorporating existing or sector-developed governance standards into the Bill through regulation, in addition to a default set of governance standards; and
• Redrafting the obligations, liabilities and offences to clarify intent and operation;
• Inclusion of express standards of procedural fairness.

‘The Committee’s report strikes a sound balance between improving the objects and procedures contained in the Bill in the interests of fair and appropriate regulation, and ensuring that the legislation can be finalised in a timeframe that will enable the ACNC to open its doors on 1 October. Once these improvements are incorporated into the Bill, ACOSS encourages all parliamentarians to support this important reform by passing the legislation that will enable the establishment of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission by 1 October,’ Dr Goldie concluded. 

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

ACOSS submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee and the Corporations and Public Administration Joint Standing Committee reviews of the ACNC Bill and consequential amendments

Nation’s legal services reaching homeless service crisis levels: ACOSS Report

13 August 2012

Australia's housing and homelessness services are stretched and unable to meet growing demand for services, but are closely followed by community legal services which are facing chronic underfunding, longer waiting lists, and turning away greater numbers of people, according to the ACOSS Australian Community Sector Survey 2012 released today.

The survey, completed by 665 agencies from around the country, provides the most comprehensive picture of how the non-government community services and welfare sector is travelling. This year the report reveals the extent of the crisis engulfing the nation's community legal services.

"About 73% of legal services around the country reported not being about to meet demand for services, surpassed only by the problems we know are facing housing and homeless services," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"There is no doubt that housing and homelessness services remain the area of highest need in our community, with 81% reporting they simply cannot meet demand. Despite this there is some good news with a drop in the number of services actually turning people away.

"This is evidence that investment in areas such as the social housing initiative have made a positive impact on services. But there are far too many people being turned away - a total of 20,496 over the year or 56 people each day. Nearly 3 in 5 agencies reported housing and homelessness as the ‘high need' services that clients are missing out on.

"There remain clear areas of unmet demand and an urgent need for sustained investment over time to address homelessness adequately. We must continue our efforts to expand the supply of affordable housing, and to ensure homelessness services are adequately funded.

"The other headline from the report is the depth of crisis facing community legal services. A record 11,693 (or 14%) people presenting for help were turned away over the past year of reporting. They tell us they've had to restrict services to clients resulting in increasing waiting lists.

"This is particularly concerning since community legal centres work with partners in legal aid commissions and Indigenous legal services to help people who cannot afford a lawyer. Over 80% of the people they help receive under $26,000 a year in income. These are people who do not qualify for legal aid and seeking help with civil and family law issues, such as evictions, tenancy, debts, family violence, dismissals and employment issues and relationship breakdown.

"We know that Australian Government legal aid funding per capita has fallen by about 22 per cent in real terms since 1997. Even the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department has noted that 98 per cent of legal aid recipients receive an income that could be considered below the poverty line. This leaves much of Australia unable to afford legal representation.

"ACOSS' Report is further evidence of this gross underfunding and the devastating impacting it's having - not only on services but also on the people they are there to assist, some of the most disadvantaged groups in our community.

"The findings vindicate calls by Community Law Australia (a coalition of community legal centres from across the nation) for an urgent injection of Commonwealth funds to ensure all Australians can access a basic level of legal assistance," Dr Goldie said.

Other services reporting high levels of unmet need include: Mental health (57%); Domestic violence and sexual assault support (52%); Youth Services (46%); and Emergency Relief (45%). See key findings below.

DOWNLOAD REPORT >>

Read the Australian Community Sector Survey 2012 National Report in HTML format >>

Media Contact:
Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

Summary of key findings

Housing the highest need
• Nearly 3 in 5 respondents listed housing among ‘high need' services of clients.
• 81% say they cannot meet demand for their services.
• 63% of respondents said waiting times for this service have increased.
• There were 303,713 instances of service provision but 20,496 instances (8%) of people turned away or 56 people turned away each day from services responding to this survey.

Legal services in strife
Legal service providers were the second highest service type to report difficulties in meeting demand.
• 73% could not meet demand for services.
• Most community legal services reported unmet demand, underfunding, restricted services to clients, and increasing waiting lists.
• There were 119,886 instances of service provision, but 11,693 (or 14%) were turned away.

Domestic violence and sexual assault support services feel the strain
• 52% reported they could not keep up with demand.
• 68% of respondents reported that that costs of this service exceeded revenue.
• 66% required staff/volunteers to work longer hours.
• 52% said waiting times for this service have increased.
• 139,179 people received services from survey respondents but 4,322 people (or 3%) were turned away.

Emergency relief services feeling the pinch
• 45% of services reported emergency relief services as an area of high need.
• Over 80% of emergency relief services had to target services more tightly to meet demand.
• Three-quarters of respondents said costs exceeded revenue for emergency relief.
• 499,743 people received emergency relief services, but 3,747 people (6%) were turned away.

Mental health anguish
Mental health was second only to homelessness/housing as the area of highest need, nominated by 57% of services.

Youth Services in trouble
• 46% could not meet demand.
• 78,100 persons received services but 2,834 people (or 5%) were turned away by respondents.
• 60% of services reported that costs of this service exceeded revenue.
• 70% reported requiring staff/volunteers to work longer hours to meet demand.

NOTE: Turnaway percentages exclude outlier numbers, for example reports of 0 or 50,000 turnaways.

About the survey
The Australian Community Sector Survey (ACSS) is the only annual national survey collecting data about the non-government, non-profit community services and welfare sector. This sector is a major provider of the community services that most of us rely on at some point in our lives, but which are particularly important to people on low incomes. The ACSS presents the findings of the ACOSS annual survey of community services across Australia. The survey was conducted between April and June 2012 and covers the period from 1 July 2010 - 30 June 2011. A total of 665 agencies completed the survey, responding on issues relating to service provision, income and expenditure, and operational, policy, and workforce issues for the community services sector. >>Click here to see the 2012 survey questions (PDF).

ACOSS and CHOICE call for States to come on board national consumer energy reforms

9 August 2012

CHOICE and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) have called on all jurisdictions to urgently embrace improved protections and information for Australian energy consumers. 

The call follows the decisions of a some states to delay implementation of the National Energy Customer Framework (NECF), which was due begin from 1 July this year following more than six years of negotiation, compromise and many millions of dollars.

"Australian electricity consumers are facing unprecedented price increases, aggressive marketing and product complexity, and we urgently need reforms to help inform and protect consumers in this challenging market," said Matt Levey, CHOICE head of campaigns.

"Instead, we have seen the four largest states in the market walk away from the national customer framework, leading to the waste of significant expenses incurred by regulators, retailers, advocates, Ombudsman and others," Mr Levey said.

"This appears to be a triumph of politics over national reform, leaving the real potential for disadvantage and confusion for consumers," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of ACOSS.

Only the ACT and Tasmania adopted the NECF on its 1 July start date, meaning consumers outside these jurisdictions are denied:
- Use of the new unbiased Energymadeeasy.gov.au comparison website run by the Australian Energy Regulator;
- Access to standardised fact sheets, helping consumers compare complex energy products;
- Comprehensive, consistent and properly enforced consumer protections; and
- The cost-savings of a nationally consistent regulatory framework.

"It is farcical that at a time when consumers are being confronted with increasingly loud and complex energy marketing, what would have been an excellent national comparison website is more like a shell," says Mr Levey said.

"The increased costs to industry from regulatory inconsistency, and from significant compliance costs ahead of 1 July, will inevitably result in higher costs for Australian energy consumers," Dr Goldie said.

"The situation is made worse by the lack of clarity from the various jurisdictions about when they will implement the NECF and provide certainty to consumers and industry.

"For example, NSW has pointed to their initiative to put mandatory warnings about the carbon tax on customer bills as their reason to walk away from this comprehensive suite of consumer reforms," said Dr Goldie.

"We all support better information about price increases on consumer bills, but junking a six year national framework of consumer protections to bombard households with information about the carbon tax is not a great outcome," Mr Levey said.

Media contacts:
Matt Levey, CHOICE head of campaigns - 0488 214 066 
Fernando de Freitas, ACOSS Media - 0419 626 155

Wrong way, go back: Communities seek a change of direction on income management

29 June 2012

Peak welfare bodies the Australian Council of Social Service and the National Welfare Rights Network and grass roots community groups are disturbed by the entrenchment of Income Management in the Northern Territory and its extension to five new areas from 1 July. The groups argue that to impose income management on communities without proper consultation and solid evidence on its effects is wasteful and demeaning to those people whose household budgets will be controlled by Centrelink. 

"We are extremely disappointed to see the Government's ‘Stronger Futures' legislation passed in the Senate in the early hours of this morning, that not only extends the NT intervention by another 10 years, but also now imposes the unproven income management model for people on social security payments to five trial sites outside the Top End. The Government committed to evaluate the Northern Territory scheme before extending it further but has now extended aspects of it anyway, both in the Territory and the five new sites, " said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie. 

"From this Sunday the communities of Bankstown in NSW, Playford in South Australia, Shepparton in Victoria, and Rockhampton and Logan in Queensland, in addition to the Northern Territory, will have an invisible fence around them and be treated differently from the rest of Australia, at a very high cost. Spending around $6,000 per person to manage people's very low incomes just doesn't make sense. Most of the people targeted are on Newstart Allowance or single parenting payments who are living on as little as $35 a day," Dr Goldie said. 

Maree O'Halloran from the National Welfare Rights Network said, "The passage of the ‘Stronger Futures' legislation makes us a weaker nation. Ninety per cent of people under compulsory income management in the Northern Territory are Aboriginal which should be a matter of national shame." 

Pam Batkin, Executive Officer at Woodville Community Services and member of the Not in Bankstown Not Anywhere Coalition said, "Income management is a bad social policy. Rather than helping people look after their families better and manage their money better income management punishes and stigmatises people in our community who are already struggling. 

"When so many people across our community agree that the Newstart Allowance is simply not enough for anyone to live on, there is something profoundly wrong with the government spending so much to manage the spending of a single person on this allowance. We call upon the government to abandon income management across Australia and to act to ensure that all people in our community simply have enough money to live on," Ms Batkin said. 

Ms Randa Kattan, Executive Director of Arab Council Australia and spokesperson for the Bankstown Coalition, visited NT communities late 2011 to see firsthand the impact of income management. "From the bush to Bankstown, people do not need income management. They need job opportunities, higher incomes and improved social services. But here in Bankstown 'Stronger Futures' means the same punitive approach that we see in the NT. Only $2.5 million has been allocated for community based programs, while $23 million will be spent on income management," she said.

David Tenant, CEO, Family Care, in Shepparton, Victoria said, "It's absolutely vital that the people who are referring clients to income management ensure they are not making difficult situations more difficult for those people. Too much of welfare reform is focussed on what is wrong in communities. The Commonwealth needs to work harder on building strength and opportunities and that work has to be done in partnership with communities."

Terry Stedman, Chairman, Logan Indigenous Community Justice Centre in Queensland said, "We are very concerned about the absence of any way of evaluating decisions made to refer people onto income management and the lack of an appeals process. Instead of punishing people the government should be spending this money on ensuring enough support services for these families - such as more mental health services for children and adults, more advocacy services (particularly for migrant families), domestic violence perpetrators programs, drug and alcohol diversion facilities and others - which are sorely missing or lacking in Logan. Local businesses are worried too about the impact this will have, especially when you consider that there was no economic impact statement done in our community.

"I fear where this is all going when we start to treat people differently like this. We'd like to see a Families Responsibility Commission set up in Logan so we don't have bad decisions and so targeted individuals and families have some sort of recourse. This seems to work well in North Queensland where the FRC can properly assist people and even be critical of government where support services for our society's most vulnerable families are simply inadequate," Mr Stedman said.

"Despite any evidence that income management is effective, $117.5 million will be spent to fund a mini-bureaucracy to micro-manage the spending of 4000 Australians living on poverty-line payments," Ms Maree O'Halloran said. "As discriminatory social policy, welfare quarantining has pervasive and far-reaching impacts. For example, half of the Clean Energy Supplement and the Clean Energy Advance, as well as the proposed $210 per year Supplementary Allowance announced in the recent budget, will be quarantined on the BasicsCard." 

Ms O'Halloran added, "With just days before the starting date we are struggling to obtain a comprehensive picture of how the rules will operate in the five new areas. The lack of clear information about how the schemes will operate is causing unnecessary anxiety. In some circumstances, the right to an independent appeal is effectively being stripped away. In light of the recent Commonwealth Ombudsman's report on the experience in the Northern Territory, this is deeply concerning."

Dr Cassandra Goldie said, "Neither Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory nor the communities of Bankstown, Shepparton, Logan, Rockhampton or Playford asked for income management. It was imposed by Government. As the peak national body for Australia's community sector, we urge the federal government to rethink income management. The Government should work with local communities, peak bodies, and grass roots services on lasting solutions for the real problems that exist in these communities.

"There are good models available, including the Northern Territory's ‘Every Child Every Day' strategy on school attendance, the Cape York Family Responsibilities Commission model, and new investment by the Federal Government in local employment, family and support programs in the five regions targeted for income management, " Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contacts

Fernando de Freitas, ACOSS - 0419 626 155

Gerard Thomas, NWRN - 0425 296 882

Pam Batkin, Woodville Community Services - 0417 230 580

Ms Randa Kattan, Arab Council Australia - 0433 144 858

Terry Stedman, Logan Indigenous Community Justice Centre - 07 3372 7677

David Tenant, Family Care, in Shepparton, Victoria - 03 5823 7000

ACOSS applauds Senate inquiry into adequacy of income support payments

26 June 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service today congratulated federal Senators for agreeing to hold an Inquiry into the adequacy of income support payments such as Newstart and Youth Allowance. The Australian Greens motion successfully passed in the Senate this afternoon.

ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said, "Senators have done the right thing. We know that people on these low Allowances are doing it the toughest. This Inquiry will shine the light on the extent of that struggle and hopefully point to ways forward on how to make our income support system more effective and fairer for everyone.

"Newstart Allowance hasn't been increased in real terms since 1994. We welcomed the recent Budget announcement of a $4 a week Supplementary Allowance but continue to insist on a minimum $50 a week increase as proposed by the Henry Tax Review.

"This is because Allowances such as Newstart have been falling further behind pensions for over a decade due to the fact that they are indexed to the CPI and not to wages. This simply must be fixed because we know it's driving people into worsening poverty.

"We are pleased the Senate's Employment, Education and Training References Committee will also inquire into the appropriateness of the allowance system as a support into work, with particular reference to the effectiveness of the payment as an incentive into work. Far from being an incentive to get people into work, even business groups now admit that such low payments have become a disincentive towards employment.

"More broadly the Inquiry will also look at the impact of the changing nature of the labour market, especially the rise of insecure work and decline of unskilled jobs. This is important to give us a clearer picture of the nature and frequency of individual interaction with the allowance payment system and over and underpayment of allowances to recipients.

"The Inquiry will allow for a fuller examination of the impact of keeping income support payments so low on people's lives. Clearly there is something wrong with the current system and this is an opportunity for us to identify the problems and take remedies to fix it. This is crucial if we are to give people currently out of paid employment the best opportunity to enter the workforce, and ensure they are afforded a dignified,decent,liveable payment while they are locked out.

"ACOSS looks forward to participating in this Inquiry, alongside the broad range of community welfare organisations that have been highlighting these issues for a long time," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Find out more about ACOSS Campaign: $35 a day is not enough!

Impact of climate change on Australia’s social services: First ever national survey

26 June 2012

The largest survey of its kind undertaken anywhere in the world will be launched in Melbourne today to identify the extent of the community welfare sector's exposure to climate change and extreme weather risks.

"We know that people experiencing poverty and disadvantage will be first and worst affected by climate change, including extreme weather events and natural disasters. But just as concerning is that community welfare organisations that provide vital services to vulnerable groups may be ill-equipped to cope," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service.

"There is widespread concern that Australia's community sector is highly exposed to climate change and extreme weather risks. For the first time this national survey will give us a good picture of the extent of that exposure, and the effects of organisational strain or failure during extreme events on service provision and, crucially, on its client-base.

"The project will also look at the sector's capacity to become prepared, as well as its capacity to make an effective contribution to societal resilience using its specialist people, buildings, assets and services. This is crucial information for informing our capacity to deal with possible future calamities," Dr Goldie said.

The research is being designed and supervised by principal research investigator Dr Karl Mallon, Director of Science and Systems at Climate Risk. Dr Mallon said, "The survey will help answer some burning questions, such as what happens to people experiencing homelessness if the shelters are flooded? What happens to families in crisis if the crisis phone-lines go down in a storm? What happens if mental health services are overwhelmed after a bushfire?"

"The evidence is that we can't take these services for granted under climate change, unless the sector is helped to adapt. On the plus side, the fact that the sector has a strong local presence, as well as specialist people, assets and services suggests that it can also be part of society's coping strategy," Dr Mallon said.

The survey has been funded by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) and will be launched at the NCCARF Conference in Melbourne today (Sebel Hotel Albert Park).

For more information about the survey click here and see survey here.

Media contacts:
Fernando de Freitas, ACOSS - 0419 626 155 (Sydney) 
Karl Mallon, Climate Risk Pty. Ltd - 0412 257 521 (Melbourne)

Groups applaud Queensland Government’s move to pull out of punitive and wasteful truants scheme

18 June 2012

The Queensland Government should be applauded for its decision to withdraw from a Commonwealth scheme that punishes families by suspending the welfare payments of parents of truant children, say peak welfare groups.

The Australian Council of Social Service along with its state counterpart the Queensland Council of Social Service, and the National Welfare Rights Network today praised the decision and suggested that Queensland should go further and pull out of the Income Management trials due to start on July 1, 2012 in Logan and Rockhampton.

"There is widespread opposition to extending SEAM - the School Enrolment Attendance Measure - which allows for cuts to the welfare payments of parents whose kids do not attend school. Queensland has done the right thing in pulling out of the scheme," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie. "There is also little support for extending income management to six communities outside the Northern Territory.

"A recent evaluation of SEAM commissioned by the Federal Government found that cutting income support payments had a temporary effect at best on school attendance, and that interviews with social workers and truant officers where individual plans to improve attendance were drawn up and supports were offered with problems like bullying at school, had a more lasting impact.

"We've been urging the Commonwealth to engage with state and Territory Governments, peak bodies, and communities on measures that work best to improve school attendance, employment and social conditions in particular areas," Dr Goldie said.

QCOSS Director Mark Henley said, "We support the positive steps to improve engagement between schools and local communities that are being pursued in Queensland, such as programs to provide breakfast before school and school buses, and funding guidance officers, attendance officers, chaplains and community liaison officers.

"This is the way forward, working constructively with families to change attitudes towards school attendance, not simply punishing them. We also urge the State Government to push for the removal of Logan and Rockhampton from the income management scheme due to commence in July.

"State Governments already have the capacity to fine parents whose children don't attend school. Withdrawing social security payments when children don't attend school is likely to impoverish families further and it has not proven to be effective," Mr Henley said.

Maree O'Halloran, President, National Welfare Rights Network said, "punishing parents when their children don't attend school has not proven to be effective, nor has income quarantining. And we know that it's extremely expensive costing an average of $200,000 per school. Imagine what you could do with that.

"SEAM is a very expensive program. The 2010-11 Budget provided an extra $3.4 million to extend SEAM for one year, bringing the total allocation to $28.2 million. That kind of money could be better spent on more constructive, workable alternatives that will have positive longer term impacts. Programs such as better case management and support programs that will help parents overcome barriers to school attendance, as well as help people overcome financial management problems and addictions," Ms O'Halloran said.

"Now this costly and wasteful Income Management scheme is being extended to five regions around the country from 1 July despite a critical Commonwealth Ombudsman report last week finding that people were being 'income managed' simply because they had applied for urgent payments from Centrelink due to financial hardship.

"It is inevitable that many people on social security payments - as little as $36 a day for Newstart Allowance - experience financial hardship. Many of Centrelink's decisions to place people on income management because they were 'vulnerable' were found to be ‘unreasonable' or made without sufficient documentation," Ms O'Halloran said.

"Such a record does little to instil confidence in a scheme that will cost around $6,000 per person assisted, and state governments would do well to rethink their involvement in the roll out of income management in their jurisdictions," Dr Goldie said.

"We know that opposition to income management is growing, not only in the new locations to be impacted after 1 July 2012 and in communities already under the regime operating in the Northern Territory (NT). For instance, Central Australian Aboriginal communities have joined their counterparts in Arnhem Land in opposing the Federal Government's continuation of the NT intervention," Dr Goldie said.

"The Government has also failed to refer the ‘Stronger Futures' legislation - which extends these schemes in the NT to the human rights committee - a key demand of many organisations, including Australia's First People's Congress, the peak representative Aboriginal body that is funded to provide feedback and advice to the Federal Government.

"The Queensland Government's move today vindicates criticism of the SEAM program. Unless the Commonwealth starts listening to groups and communities on the ground on what really works, state Governments should not simply be expected to go along with measures that have no sound policy basis," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Contacts:
Fernando de Freitas, ACOSS - 0419 626 155
Ian Wynne, QCOSS - 0414 643 122
Maree O'Halloran, NWRN - 0417 672 104

 

Ground breaking new policy on charities released

15 June 2012

The not-for-profit sector has welcomed the first major policy announcement from the Opposition on the future of the charities and not-for-profit sector under a Coalition government.

In today’s address to the Menzies Research Centre, Kevin Andrews, Shadow Minister for Families and Housing and Human Services, emphasised the importance of the charities and not-for-profit sector, the need to build on the value of the sector, its strength and reputation in Australia.  The key theme was to empower not-for-profits and reduce government interference and red tape in promoting a stronger civil society. 

Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of ACOSS said: “we welcome the Coalition’s support for the sector, the commitment to cutting red tape and for the establishment of a new independent Charities Commission.  At the same time, we see the administration of taxation concessions for the sector should be separate from effective regulation of charities.  We look forward to working to refine their policy further in the interests of better outcomes and improved effectiveness for community services.”

Rev Tim Costello, Chair of the Community Council for Australia said: “it is great that the coalition are willing to work with charities and the not-for-profit sector to reduce compliance costs, needless “administrivia”, and to achieve better outcomes, but it is a concern that they continue to support the ATO as the primary regulator of charities.”

David Crosbie, CEO of CCA was also pleased with the overall themes but expressed some caution: “all parties want to see charities and the not-for-profit sector freed up to do more of what they do best – serving their communities.  The real question is how best to achieve this.  It is pleasing that the Coalition is committed to working with the sector to achieve real change, to establishing some form of Charities Commission and reducing government imposts, but it will be the detailed implementation that will really tell us whether the sector is much better off.”

Regular reviews of the not-for-profit sector have called for urgent reform.  In the last few years, the Productivity Commission and the Australian Senate have all called for substantive changes to the regulatory environments that govern charities and not-for-profits.  Currently it is the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that applies its far reaching powers to the task of regulating all charities and not-for-profit organisations that claim any form of tax concession.  If an organisation seeks to challenge a ruling about charitable status from the ATO they can find themselves facing the time and expense of a High Court case. 

The not-for-profit sector is a critical contributor to the economy employing around 1 million Australians and turning over close to $100 billion annually.  It is bigger than the communications, tourism or agriculture sectors, yet has been largely bypassed in economic reforms across the last three decades.
   
Media contacts:

Fernando de Freitas, ACOSS - 0419 626 155
David Crosbie, CCA - 0419 624 420

 

 

 

 

 

The challenge is finding common ground on growing the economy while reducing inequality

12 June 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service said this week's Economic Forum called by Prime Minister Julia Gillard is an opportunity to find common ground on how best to grow the economy while ensuring nobody is left behind in this period of unprecedented investment from Australia's mining boom.

"How do we ensure all of us benefit from prosperity - that no communities are forgotten, and that we build a stronger nation, both now and into the future? This is the challenge, and all of us have a stake in it," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"What's needed right now is a general consensus on directions of reform that includes the community. It is therefore pleasing to see community voices at the forum. After all strong social policy is a critical component of growing the economy. And, in the end, we want economic growth to lead to better outcomes for the Australian society as a whole.

"In order to take advantage of the opportunities a changing international economy presents to us, we need flexible workplaces and an adaptive and mobile workforce. To keep the labour force and economy growing when the population is ageing, we need to ensure that renew the skills of mature age workers, women returning to paid work, and unemployed people have the opportunity to renew their skills and we need workplaces that are inclusive, and flexible to diverse needs, including balancing paid work and family and caring responsibilities. Improved productivity should not be reduced to motions of working just harder and faster.

"Workers moving to places where there are labour shortages also need affordable housing and adequate public transport - for example many workers will be reluctant to move to mining towns unless they can live with or near their families.

"There is much more we need to do to include a great many people in Australia who are currently locked out of the workforce. These include:

• Low skilled workers and unemployed people need training that's linked to job opportunities and career progression.

• Long term unemployed people need more help to regain employment than the interview every two months and average of $500 for training courses they currently receive.

• Women combining paid work and care need affordable child care and flexible working hours over which they have some control.

• Mature age workers need their skills updated and preventive health care and disability services will be increasingly important tools to maintain productivity in the workplace.

"Tax reform has a role to play but this is often exaggerated: Tax reform is not a magic wand to boost investment and productivity. The main purpose of tax reform should be to equitably raise the revenue needed to support an ageing population and productivity boosting services such as education, health care, and child care, while causing the least economic harm.

"ACOSS has long argued that the best approach to secure a sustainable revenue base is to remove the loopholes and distortions in our income tax system such as negative gearing deductions which erode public revenue and encourage speculative investment in property. The States should make greater use of their most efficient taxes such as Land tax and less of their most harmful taxes such as stamp duties.

"Workplace relations as a role also in building a flexible workplace, but this should be about cooperation between employers, unions and workers. Workplace relations laws are not the main barrier to this: in fact Australia has among the most flexible laws in the OECD. Workplace laws offer plenty of room for collaboration within enterprises to boost productivity - the parties should get on with the job. We need strong cultural change to drive inclusive flexibility that delivers a better workforce which is stable and productive.

"Hopefully tomorrow's Economic Forum will provide the stimulus for this. It's time for all key stakeholder groups - including business, unions, politicians, and the community - to work together and reach a consensus on directions for reform in the national interest," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Solar hot water a welcome plus for low income households

6 June 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has welcomed today's announcement of additional resources for the Home Energy Saver Scheme (HESS).

HESS will assist households to better understand and manage energy use. New funds for investment in solar hot water systems are an excellent extension of the scheme that will allow households to take action to reduce energy costs.

Water heating is a significant contributor to energy bills. Many low income households use inefficient and expensive electric or gas systems. Solar water heating is priced out of range of many low income households. The HESS program will combine customised advice about energy efficiency with information about retail energy options and assistance to invest in energy saving products.

ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie said that "HESS is a good example of how the Clean Energy Future should work. It provides for the transition to clean energy services, support for local industry and assistance to households that can least afford change but will benefit most. The investment is long lasting, the savings go on."

HESS commences from July. The program will be delivered through a national network of not-for-profit organisations. A new 1800 number and website will be available shortly.

Last year ACOSS worked with The Climate Institute and Choice to assess cost of living impacts arising from the introduction of a carbon price. Using independent consultants at CSIRO and AECOM, The Cost of Living project modelled price changes and the effects of assistance provided through reform of income support and taxation. Detailed reports and case studies can be found here.

The project also produced an online calculator at yourcarbonprice.com.au. This site introduces some of the concepts behind a carbon price and computes the net effect of cost of living changes, energy efficiency measures and household assistance.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

ACOSS welcomes Government’s nominee to head Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission

6 June 2012

ACOSS has warmly welcomed the announcement of Ms Susan Pascoe AM as the Government's nominee Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission.

"As the peak body for Australia's community and social service sector, ACOSS has long championed the establishment of a national regulator for our sector and we hailed the Commonwealth's commitment to establish the ACNC," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Since her appointment as Interim Commissioner for the ACNC, Ms Pascoe has worked tirelessly in the advancement of this important reform. She has built a strong and positive working relationship with the sector, while setting clear expectations about the independence and role of an effective regulator.

"ACOSS congratulates Ms Pascoe on her appointment. We look forward to continuing to work together to establish a strong, independent and effective ACNC as soon as possible," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

ACOSS urges parliamentarians to reject legislation cutting payments for single parent families

31 May 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has today expressed disappointment that the Federal Government is going ahead with its plan to cut single parent payments that will severely affect the lives of more than 100,000 sole parents and their children.

"This is not a workforce incentive but a cost cutting measure at the expense of some of the most disadvantaged families in our community," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"These parents are already required to seek part time employment and half are already in some form of paid work. The payment cut won't create a single job or pay for a single training course.

"The proposal means that from next January many single parents will see their payments drop from $324 per week to $265 per week as they will be forced onto the lower paying Newstart Allowance when their youngest child turns eight.

"This $59 drop in payments will make it so much harder for families to cover the costs of food and bills, housing, healthcare, transport and schooling. Even with the increases in family payments and the new Supplementary Allowance, a sole parent family with a primary school age child will still be about $30 to $40 a week worse off. The end result will be more children in poverty.

"There is no evidence to show that moving sole parents and their children onto lower payments will increase their job prospects. In fact, the evidence is to the contrary. The things that will make a difference to their employment prospects include intensive career counselling and support, training for those with limited employment-related skills, affordable good quality child care, and ongoing jobs with predictable, family friendly working hours.

"As far as we are aware, the only new investments in these services in this year's Budget directed to those affected by the proposed payment cuts is a $3 million telephone career counselling service. Some services for this group have been reduced.

"Around $50 million a year is being cut from Job Services Australia services despite the fact that the funding available to assist even long-term unemployed people is very thin: on average, enough to interview a ‘long-term' unemployed person once every two months and spend $500 on training. Budgeted increases in JET Child Care subsidies are due to higher demand, not an expansion of eligibility and indeed both eligibility and the level of subsidy are being reduced."

"If nothing else this harsh proposal is further proof of the urgent need for an increase to the Newstart Allowance which one member of parliament this week correctly described as ‘woefully, horribly, utterly too low'.

"We welcome the announcement by the Greens calling for an inquiry into the long-term adequacy of Newstart. However, we already know that right now, it needs to be increased by at least $50 per week. This was the recommendation of the Henry Tax Panel, which has the support of union and business groups, economists, and the whole community sector. Unless this happens we will continue to condemn around one million people to life on around $35 a day.

"ACOSS and other leading community welfare organisations have jointly written to all federal Members of Parliament and Senators, urging them to reject the legislation reducing the payments of sole parents, introduced into Federal Parliament today, and to give child poverty the highest priority in deliberating over the Bill. As it stands the plan will entrench child poverty and should be opposed by all sides of politics," said Dr Goldie.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

More Information:
New ACOSS Factsheet on impacts on single parent families

See ACOSS joint letter to Federal Parliamentarians

ACOSS urges Government to rethink cuts to sole parents and to lift Allowances

21 May 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service is appealing to the Federal Government to reconsider its planned Budget cuts to single parent families and raise the inadequate payment for Newstart and other Allowance recipients to prevent more than 100,000 families from falling deeper into poverty.

"Only last week we saw further evidence from the Salvation Army that people on Newstart and Parenting Payments are among those presenting in the highest numbers for emergency relief. Yet these people are not presenting for one-off emergencies. Allowance payments are simply not enough to cover the costs of food and bills, housing, healthcare, transport and schooling for those with children," said Acting ACOSS CEO Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine.

"The move to force single parent families onto the even lower paying Newstart Allowance is not a work incentive but a recipe for more poverty, which community groups and charities will be left to deal with.

Her comments came as ACOSS released a detailed paper on the impact of this measure and its implications for sole parent families. "The proposal to shift around 150,000 sole parents to Newstart and other Allowances would reduce their income support by up to $60 per week. Even with the increases in family payments and the Supplementary Allowance, we calculate a sole parent family with a primary school age child will still be about $40 a week worse off."

"We urge the Parliament on all sides to raise the inadequacy of these payments at every opportunity, particularly as Budget bills begin to come forward.

"We reiterate our call for the Newstart Allowance to be increased by $50 per week, as recommended by the comprehensive Henry Tax Review and supported by the business community and economists. After 20 years without any real increase, the $4 per week Supplementary Allowance in the Federal Budget is a first step. However it won't resolve the serious financial deprivation of people living on this payment today, including many people with children," Dr Boyd-Caine said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

More Information:
New ACOSS Factsheet on proposed single parenting cuts

Note to Editors: Single parent families available for interviews

ACOSS urges Parliament to stop cuts to sole parents

10 May 2012

The Australian Council for Social Service is again calling on the Parliament to give child poverty it's highest priority in legislating the Federal Budget, following the findings of Anglicare's State of Sydney report released today showing the alarming rates of child poverty in Australia's largest city.

The report sheds light on the true plight of Sydney families who have been presenting in large numbers for help with food parcels, electricity and other bills at the agency's eight emergency relief centres between 2007-11. It reveals that almost half the people needing help were parents, and 62 per cent of the parents were sole parents, overwhelmingly women, and generally on incomes of less than $600 a week. One in 10 of the single parents were reliant on the Newstart Allowance, the rest were on the Parenting Payment.

"ACOSS has praised the fairness of the overall Budget. However, it will not address the deep concerns we have about the adequacy of income support and family payments for people on the lowest incomes. We must ensure that in a tight Budgetary environment the extra assistance is targeted to those who need it the most," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"For instance, with the urgent passage of the Schoolkids Bonus through Parliament, which extends a $410 to $820 a year ($16pw) bonus to families on up to $170,000 a year, the Government should now fold the Bonus into the family payments system and make sure those payments are targeted to those most in need. The largest increases in Family Tax Benefits should go to low income families (below $100,000), and they should be indexed to wage movements instead of the CPI.

"This would restore the original goal of family payments: reducing child poverty and supporting low and middle income families with the costs of children.

"The budget cuts to sole parent payments should also be withdrawn. According to the OECD two out of three children in families not in paid work are currently living below the poverty line. These families need better income support and family payments as well as help to secure employment - it's not a choice of one or the other.

"An adequate safety net must be there for the poorest families who are unable to find paid work - one third of whom are living in poverty. A sole parent on Parenting Payment with one school age child receives under $500 a week in income support and family payments - for many families, most of that goes in rent.

"The proposal to shift around 150,000 sole parents to Newstart and other payments would reduce their income support by up to $60 per week, further entrenching child poverty. The payment cuts won't create a single job or pay for a single training course.

"These parents are already required to seek part time paid work so this is about cutting payments, not workforce participation. Even with the increases in family payments and the Supplementary Allowance, a sole parent family with a primary school age child will still be about $40 a week worse off. If the parent is studying the family will lose another $32 a week because the Pensioner Education Supplement does not apply to Newstart Allowance.

"We urge the Government and parliamentarians from all sides of politics to do the right thing by these sole parent families, and make sure family payments are addressing child poverty, which must be our top concern.

"ACOSS also reiterates its call for the Newstart Allowance to be increased by $50 per week. The $4 per week Supplementary Allowance in this Federal Budget is a first step after 20 years without any increases, but it won't resolve the serious financial deprivation of people living on this payment today, including many people with children," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

NOTE TO EDITORS: Single parent families available for comment

MORE INFORMATION:
See ACOSS Budget Media Release: Robin Hood comes good, except for single parent families
ACOSS Report: ‘Waste not, want not: Making room in the Budget for essential services'

Robin Hood comes good, except for single parent families

8 May 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has welcomed the overall approach in the Federal Budget, which makes the tax system fairer and will improve the lives of people on low incomes - except for 100,000 of our poorest families.

"This Budget reduces supports and tax breaks for those that need them least, and strengthens them for those that need them the most, except for the poorest sole parents, who are left up to $60 a week worse off," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"We are delighted that a number of our recommendations to make the Budget more equitable and sustainable have finally been taken up, such as rolling back superannuation tax concessions for high earners; tightening the living away from home allowance; targeting tax breaks for golden handshakes; and phasing out the inefficient mature age worker tax offset. It begins important work on tax reform, which must now be extended, building consensus along the road.

"As well as achieving a surplus the Budget redirects some of that wasteful spending to begin the work on some of our most pressing social issues, including dental health reform, reductions in carbon emissions, the NDIS, and the adequacy of allowances and family tax payments (including the liquid assets test for people claiming income support).

"We welcome the commitment to work towards a national dental scheme from next year. The $500 million investment (over half of which is new money) will be welcome relief to the 400,000 people on public dental waiting lists.

"ACOSS is also pleased to see funding set aside in this year's budget to launch a national disability insurance scheme a year ahead of schedule. This is long overdue and great news for the great many people in Australia with disability, and their families and carers.

"The new Supplementary Allowance of around $4 per week is welcome though it is no substitute for raising Newstart to a decent liveable level and indexed to wages like Pensions instead of CPI but it is the first real increase in the Newstart Allowance payment for twenty years. Further increases to these Allowance payments are essential to reduce poverty and put people in a better position to find paid work. We take it as a sign of good faith that recognises this payment is inadequate, with a much more substantial increase to be achieved around the corner.

"However, it is disappointing that the Budget does not strengthen investment in employment services for long term unemployed people, who still only get an interview every two months and $500 worth of other help. The Budget cuts to Job Services Australia are unsustainable and underscore the need for a major review of the system.

"The Schoolkids bonus is a vast improvement on the Education Tax Refund, which we have called to be abolished. This bonus will make it easier for low income families to claim but could still be better targeted to those families who really need it. The separate family payment increases of up to $600 a year are better targeted and very welcome.

"The major blight on this year's Budget is the unnecessary attack on 100,000 single parents who'll be left worse off. The surplus could have been achieved without leaving some of the most disadvantaged families and their children in deficit.

"People on Parenting Payments will be left around $60 a week poorer by being forced off their current payment ($324 a week) onto the lower paying Newstart Allowance ($265 per week) when their youngest child turns eight.

"This measure goes against the grain of an otherwise balanced and fair Budget and we urge the Government to reconsider. This will drive many more families into poverty and ACOSS will be calling on parliamentarians to reject any legislation to bring this into affect.

"This is not a work incentive measure - in fact the financial returns from employment are less than those available under Parenting Payment.

"Such a proposal further underscores the urgent need for an increase to the Newstart Allowance which has widespread support in the community, among union groups, and business.

"Overall this budget begins the work we need: securing a more sustainable revenue base, whilst funding important national priorities. We must make sure that the 100,000 sole parents are not collateral damage along the way," Dr Goldie said.

For Media Comment: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Budget surplus should not be built on backs of Australia’s poorest families and their children

4 May 2012

Media speculation that the Federal Government is expected to further hit single parents trying to raise their children in tough circumstances in next week's Budget would be unfair and worsen poverty in Australia, according to the nation's leading welfare bodies.

In response to media reports today, the Australian Council of Social Service, National Welfare Rights Network, and National Council for Single Mothers and their Children, said that a Budget surplus should not come at the expense of the most needy. They are urging the Commonwealth to instead focus on tackling poorly targeted subsidies and tax concessions and tax loopholes such as ‘golden handshakes and other shelters which would save billions of dollars to the Budget bottom line.

"Sole parents are already required to seek paid work once their youngest child turns eight, this won't make any difference to their job prospects whatsoever, and in fact will make them worse," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"One third of single parents on parenting payment already work, mostly part-time. This would effectively mean a cut in income of $59 a week for those on the maximum rate who are already struggling to raise their children on low payments."

"The surplus should not be built on the backs of Australia's poorest families and their children. Keeping a roof over their heads, paying utility bills and paying for school expenses is going to be that much harder under if these cuts proceed," said Maree O'Halloran, President, National Welfare Rights Network.

"The current rate of social security payment for a person in receipt of Parenting Payment Single is $324 a week. However, the rate of payments for a principal carer on Newstart is just $265 per week - a payment reduction of $59 a week or $3,086 a year.

"We estimate such a move would force a further 100,000 single parents of children from disadvantaged and low income families onto the lower paying Newstart Allowance, which pays just $35 a day ($37 for sole parents) and hasn't been increased since 1994," Ms O'Halloran said.

"Financial Hardship makes finding a job so much harder. No one wins when some children are left behind - a family breaks down when struggling with financial stress on a daily basis," said Terese Edwards, CEO, National Council of Single Mothers and their Children.

"We can do so much more than to make it harder for families that are already doing it tough. A job in itself does not guarantee a way out - causal, temporary, seasonable and low paid employment doesn't work for single mums."

"Business leaders, the ACTU, the 2009 Henry Review and even the OECD have all recently highlighted the need for the Newstart Allowance to be increased. Coupled with the recent changes to the eligibility criteria of the Disability Support Pension, the change would push hundreds and thousands more people onto the paltry Newstart payment," said Dr Goldie.

"We maintain that these changes simply cannot be justified unless the Newstart Allowance payment is increased by $50 a week at the very least."

ACOSS, Welfare Rights, and NCSMC have long argued that Newstart Allowance is not a suitable payment for parents with young dependent children. Under Newstart Allowance, the financial returns from employment are less than those available under Parenting Payment. These reforms will actually reduce work incentives, rather than increase them.

"The Government would do better to look for savings at the top end where billions are wasted every year on poorly targeted subsidies and tax concessions and tax loopholes such as ‘golden handshakes and other tax shelters.

"Our report ‘Waste not, want not: Making room in the Budget for essential services' released last week identifies around $8 billion that could be saved by targeting the new layer of rebates which have grown unsustainably in the past decade as well as other tax breaks and loopholes, which overwhelming benefit those on high incomes," Dr Goldie said.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Fernando de Freitas at ACOSS - 0419 626 155 
Gerard Thomas at Welfare Rights - 0425 296 882
Terese Edwards - NCSMC - 0439 211 493 

NOTE TO EDITORS: Case studies available to speak to the media

MORE INFORMATION: 
ACOSS Report: ‘Waste not, want not: Making room in the Budget for essential services'  
National Welfare Rights Network: Fairness & support in uncertain times - 2012-13 Federal Budget Statement Priorities

ACOSS welcomes NDIS announcement as long overdue

30 April 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has welcomed today's announcement that funding will be set aside in this year's federal budget to launch a national disability insurance scheme a year ahead of schedule.

"This is great news for the great many people in Australia with disability, and their families and carers," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Up to now the main obstacle has been concerns about how to fund such a scheme, but the reality is that we simply can't afford not to have an NDIS. It's long overdue and this development should be applauded.

"This is a fundamental reform of the National Disability Strategy and also in line with our obligations under international conventions.

"We would also expect an allocation of funding for safeguarding and advocacy, and the building of capacity amongst people with disability to become NDIS ready.

"We call on all sides of politics to back up their support for an NDIS with a funding commitment to match the overwhelming support for this scheme in the wider community.

"ACOSS and its members look forward to working closely with the Federal and State and Territory Governments on implementation, Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: 0419 626 155

ACOSS welcomes roll back of Super tax breaks for very high income earners as step in right direction

28 April 2012

ACOSS has backed the announcement by the Assistant Treasurer to limit the tax breaks on super contributions for people earning more than $300 000 as a step in the right direction. The change will mean that the tax breaks for people on very high incomes will be reduced from 30 cents in the dollar to 15 cents in the dollar.

"Right now, the tax concessions on superannuation are manifestly unfair, and disproportionately benefit people on higher incomes who are well placed to look after their own retirement futures. With a total value of $32B per year in super tax concessions, it is clearly unfair that over 50% of the breaks on concessional contributions are going to people in the top 12% of income earners, and 20% is going to the top 2%. Yet, the bulk of people on low and modest incomes are really struggling to secure the super savings they will need", said Dr Cassandra Goldie, ACOSS CEO.

ACOSS has been a strong and persistent advocate for super reform in this direction, including through the Henry Tax Panel process, and more recently by calling for tax concession reform as part of the move to increase the super guarantee from 9 - 12%. ACOSS again called for reform last week with the release of its paper Waste not, want not: Making room in the Budget for essential services.

"This announcement should be widely supported, and builds on the Government's positive move to introduce the Government Contribution which ensures that people on low incomes are now at least not penalised by paying more tax on their super than they would ordinarily pay. We are now keen to see the Government reconsider the proposal to increase the cap on concessional contributions from $25 000 to $50 000 for people with savings of less than $500 000, as this is most likely to benefit the people who are already doing very well out of the tax breaks on super," said Dr Goldie.

See also:

>> Media release: ACOSS report identifies $8b in Budget savings

>> ACOSS Submission to the Senate Economics Committee on reform of the tax treatment of
super contributions


Media Contact: 0419 626 155

ACOSS Report identifies $8b in Budget savings

26 April 2012

A new ACOSS report identifies around $8 billion dollars that could be saved in the Budget if the Federal Government tackles poorly targeted subsidies and tax concessions and clamps down on tax loopholes such as ‘golden handshakes and other shelters.

"This will have the effect of moving the Budget towards a surplus, as the Government intends, but will also make our tax system fairer and put us in a much better position to fund essential social services and infrastructure into the future," according to Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service.

"Our report ‘Waste not, want not: Making room in the Budget for essential services' calls for the Government to target the new layer of rebates which have grown unsustainably in the past decade and are poorly targeted.

"These include subsidies for ‘gap fees' or other private expenditures for health and community services, such as the Private Health Insurance Rebate from ancillary or ‘extras' cover; the Extended Medicare Safety Net; the Medical Expenses Tax Offset; the Education Tax Refund; and tax deduction for self-education expenses.

"A major problem with these rebates is that they mainly benefit people on higher incomes who in relative terms can afford to pay more for these services (including health insurance) in the first place. The time has come to pare back these programs beyond applying means tests to cap them at very high income levels.

"ACOSS would also like to see the Government curb poorly targeted tax breaks that haven't attracted the same scrutiny as direct spending programs. These include:

• Taxing ‘golden handshakes' for departing employees at their marginal tax rates instead of the flat tax rates of 15% or 30% that now apply;
• Removing the Senior Australians (SATO) and Mature Age Workers (MAWTO) Tax Offsets or restricting them to pensioners;
• Removing the extra Capital Gains Tax concessions for small businesses which apply in addition to the 50% discount of tax for capital gains available to individual taxpayers generally;
• The tax treatment of private discretionary trusts be tightened to restrict these tax avoidance opportunities.

"These ‘tax concessions' are a kind of shadow budget. Super tax concessions, for instance, now cost over $30 billion in lost revenue. That's the highest in the OECD and about the same as our spend on the age pension. Yet most of the concessions on compulsory contributions go to the top 20% of income earners, those who are already well placed to secure their retirement future.

"There will be no room in the Budget for more investment in major social and physical infrastructure, unless Governments crack down on tax shelters like family trusts and superannuation tax breaks for people on higher incomes.

"As we know there are still gaping holes in our social safety net: disability services, dental and mental health, Indigenous services and poverty-inducing social security payments. The Newstart Allowance for example is just $35 a day - the lowest in the OECD and, in families without a parent in paid work, two out of three children are in poverty.

"By tackling the current waste and inefficient aspects of our Budget we will be able to afford these essential supports and services we all want and expect in the coming decades - including a $50 a week increase to Newstart and other low paying income support payments.

"This can be achieved while still keeping our spending and public debt way below the levels that are creating concerns in Europe and the United States. Now is the ideal time to put in place many of the Henry Review recommendations that would address the current inadequacies and make our tax system more equitable, sustainable and fairer for everyone," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

See new ACOSS Report: Waste not, want not: Making room in the Budget for essential services

Further evidence time has come to increase low paying income support payments

23 April 2012

The time has come for the Commonwealth Government to raise low paying income support payments with new research revealing that most Australians support increasing the below the poverty line Newstart Allowance, according to the Australian Council of Social Service.

The Australia Institute report released today shows that most people in Australia believe the current Newstart Allowance payment of $245 a week is far too low to meet the most basic costs of living and support a raise of between $84 to $329 per week.

"This is higher than the $50 a week that ACOSS has been calling for following the recommendation of the comprehensive Henry Tax Review back in 2010. Now not only business groups, unions, researches, and Australia's community sector thinks the payment level is unliveable but also the majority of people in Australia," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"There are nearly 600,000 unemployed people in Australia, and when workers lose their jobs through no fault of their own, as seen currently with workers in the manufacturing industries, the unemployment benefit is often the only safety net they have. We shouldn't be hitting them with the compounding distress of having to live in poverty.

"Business groups, unions, academics and employment assistance services have all said that the current payment level is actually a disincentive for people to find employment.

"Whilst ACOSS agrees that we need a strong economy to be able to provide the essential social services and infrastructure our community needs, we don't believe a Budget surplus should come at the expense of those already at rock bottom.

"We maintain that Australia can afford this modest increase to Newstart and other Allowances of $50 a week at the upcoming Budget, and our Budget submission identifies some of the areas in which the money could be found to fund this. What's needed now is the political will to do the right thing by people facing tough times," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Enquiries: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

More information:
Find out more about the ACOSS Allowances Campaign

ACOSS thanks Senator for raising awareness of low paying Newstart Allowance

21 April 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service today thanked Greens Senator Rachel Siewert for raising awareness of the impossibility of living on the Newstart Allowance payment of just $35 a day by completing a week of trying to survive on the below the poverty line payment. 

"What better insight into the true plight of people struggling to make ends meet on this paltry payment than by gaining first-hand experience of what it must be like yourself," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Perhaps what's needed to finally see a raise in Allowances like Newstart (which hasn't seen a real increase since 1994), is for more of our political leaders to take up the challenge themselves to see how they would fair.

"Senator Siewert notes that her week of living on the Newstart Allowance of $245 a week (about $17 dollars a day once you take out rent), was even more challenging and confronting that she anticipated, and that despite careful budgeting "it has been impossible to pay essential costs, buy food and set money aside for bills or emergencies'.

"This is what groups on the ground have been saying for a very long time. Not only is it condemning nearly 600,000 people into worsening levels of poverty, but it actually makes it harder for them to be in a position to get into paid work.

"There is now widespread acknowledgement among business groups, unions, researches, and right across Australia's community sector that the payment is so low that it is actually a disincentive for people to find employment.

"ACOSS believes that time has come for Newstart and other Allowances to be lifted as the comprehensive Henry Tax Review recommended back in 2010. We simply shouldn't continue to subject people who are already facing major barriers from more fully participating in our society to have to live in poverty.

"Everyone accepts that we need a strong economy to be able to provide the essential social services and infrastructure our community needs, but a Budget surplus should not come at the expense of the most needy.

"Australia can afford the modest increase to Newstart and other Allowances of $50 a week at the upcoming Budget, and our Budget submission identifies some of the areas in which the money could be found to fund this. What's needed now is the political will to do the right thing by some of the most disadvantaged groups in our country.

"We commend the action of Senator Siewert for raising public awareness of this important issue and we hope this goes some way to convince federal parliamentarians from all sides of politics that the time has truly come," Dr Goldie said.

Media Enquiries: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

More information: ACOSS Campaign and Advocacy Week 16-20 April 2012 

New Allowances Factsheet

ACOSS calls for responsible debate about social security

19 April 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has called for a balanced debate about how public money is spent in Australia and how we will fund the essential social services and infrastructure we all want into the future following comments made by Opposition Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey overnight.

"All people, regardless of where they live, have the right to healthcare, education and other crucial social support services. We should take pride in a social security system which has been designed to help guard against poverty and disadvantage in Australia. We need to now build on that system, and address urgent gaps, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme, dental health and increasing the unemployment payment,' said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"Despite the rhetoric, Australia is neither a high taxing country nor do we spend as much on welfare as other OECD nations. The reality is that spending on working age payments has been falling for last decade (not including the GFC), and the vast majority goes to pay for age pensions and family payments. But certainly we will face challenges from the changing nature of our population.

"This is why ACOSS has been calling for the tackling of tax loopholes and better targeting of spending. We have called for the better means testing of entitlements such as the Private Health Insurance rebate and others, to ensure they go to people in the greatest need. We've also been arguing that everyone should pay their fair share of tax and for the Government to tackle the array of unfair tax breaks for people on higher incomes as recommended by the Henry Tax Review.

"If this is done in the upcoming Budget, we can put our budget in a position to be able to fund the vital essential services we all want to see, instead of considering cutting crucial community programs and benefits for people who most need it.

"The problem is not that people in Australia are over-taxed or spend uncontrollably on essential services like health, education, aged care, or for people with disabilities for example - we actually don't spend enough in these important areas and the demand on these are growing.

"ACOSS has identified nearly $5 billion in savings in our Budget submission which could easily fund our urgent call for an increase to Newstart and other low paying Allowances, which hasn't been increased in real terms since 1994. These Allowances are clearly inadequate and the lowest for unemployed people in the OECD.

"People on the Newstart Allowance are now living on just $35 a day, which is further below the poverty line, and if we want to prevent worsening poverty in our own backyard and retain our reputation as a truly fair and egalitarian nation we need to address this.

"ACOSS accepts that our economy needs to be strong to enable us to provide the social services and infrastructure our community needs. However, we will not accept that our wealthy nation should allow people to fall deeper into poverty in that endeavour. Nor should we allow a further chipping away of our important and enviable social safety net system,"Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

See ACOSS Budget Priority Statement 2012-13

Find out more about the ACOSS Newstart and Allowances campaign >>

States’ moves on climate bad for jobs, families and environment

13 April 2012

The Southern Cross Climate Coalition (SCCC) has today expressed concern at attacks on the renewable energy target and clean energy support measures from the New South Wales Government and some business groups before Friday's COAG meeting.

In light of the Queensland and Victorian Governments' recent moves away from their commitment to such measures to support a price on pollution this is a trend in state politics that is bad for jobs, bad for families and bad for the environment.

To remain competitive and claim our fair share of the emerging global clean energy economy, the SCCC has long advocated a portfolio of policies including the renewable energy target, clean energy investment support and energy efficiency alongside a price and limit on carbon pollution. The report ‘Stronger, Fairer, Healthier' being a prime example.

"Last year was a year of such extraordinary progress on climate action, with such great steps being taken. The CEFC legislation alone can enhance the $10 billion investment tenfold in renewable resources like sun and wind, giving us a huge competitive advantage. It is deeply disappointing to see Australia suddenly moving backwards on matters of crucial environmental importance," said Don Henry, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF).

"The renewable energy target - a policy supported by both parties at the federal level - is an effective, efficient policy mechanism that helps Australia significantly reduce its emissions, grows jobs and investment, and reduces long term costs" said John Connor, CEO of the Climate Institute.

"The suite of complementary measures that support the carbon price are important for driving innovation in clean technology and the associated job creation opportunities," said Ged Kearney, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) President.

"We need strong complementary measures to ensure that low-income people become part of the solution and are able to benefit from new opportunities, such as gaining employment in clean energy jobs, and reaping the benefits of affordable clean energy and energy efficiency measures." said Cassandra Goldie, CEO of the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS).

In its 2011 election platform, the NSW Liberal party committed to developing a blueprint to reach the target of generating 20% of its electricity by 2020, a commitment that seems to have wavered.

The SCCC calls on all governments to stand behind important measures in carbon pricing, clean energy and energy efficiency in combating climate change, spurring innovation and growth, creating jobs and protecting Australian families.

Media contacts:

ACF - Josh Meadows, 0439 342 992

ACTU - Mark Phillips 0422 009 011

ACOSS - Fernando de Freitas, 0419 626 155

Climate Institute - Kristina Stefanova, 0407 004 037

Download PDF here

ACOSS applauds Senator living on Newstart to raise awareness

13 April 2012

The national peak body for the community and social services sector, ACOSS, applauds the action of Senator Rachel Siewert to live on $17 a day for a week to try and get a feel for the true plight of people living in poverty on the low paying Newstart Allowance.

"It's a great thing to see a federal politician so concerned about an issue as to take such a step. If Senator Siewert didn't understand how tough it is to try and exist on so little, she sure will by the end of the week," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"ACOSS has been saying for a long time that the current rate of Newstart (base rate $245 per week) is simply not enough, and is significantly below the poverty line.

"There is now widespread support, not only across Australia's community sector, but also business, union, researchers, and other community leaders that Allowances like Newstart must be lifted.

"We shouldn't condemn people who are already facing major barriers from more fully participating in our society through paid work by subjecting them to poverty.

"The low payments are actually a disincentive for people to get into paid work. As Business Council of Australia head Jennifer Westacott said, "people have to be able to stay in close proximity to returning to the workforce ... they need to be in good health, have decent clothes, be able to get transport to go to interviews and to have their confidence intact."

"ACOSS is calling on the Commonwealth Government to increase Newstart and other Allowances by $50 a week at the upcoming Budget. This is a modest increase that was recommended by the Henry review and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

"This and other important initiatives, like the National Disability Insurance Scheme and universal dental health-care, can be afforded whilst at the same time bringing the Budget back into surplus," (see ACOSS Budget submission).

"ACOSS accepts that our economy needs to be strong to enable us to provide the social services and infrastructure our community needs, including ensuring as far as possible a budget surplus. However, we will not accept that our wealthy nation should allow people to fall deeper into poverty in that quest.

"We commend Senator Rachel Siewert for taking up this challenge. If more political leaders did this maybe then we'd see action on this front," Dr Goldie concluded.

Media Enquiries: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

More information:
ACOSS Campaign and Advocacy Week 16-20 April 2012
New Allowances Factsheet

Rising poverty in Australia the focus of this week’s ACOSS Annual Conference

27 March 2012

The national peak body for community and social services, ACOSS, will use this week's annual conference to highlight the worsening plight of the most disadvantaged people in Australia.

A number of organisations including ACOSS and independent experts will present new research showing that people can no longer exist on Allowances like Newstart and Sole Parenting Payments, which have fallen $133 per week behind pensions, and are driving many more people into poverty.

"We've known for a long time that these Allowances are low - Newstart ($245 per week) hasn't been increased in real terms since 1994, with people struggling to get into paid work missing out on the $32 pension increase of a few years ago," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, ACOSS.

"There is a growing consensus that this is no longer sustainable - it simply cannot be allowed to continue, especially if we want to avoid greater levels of poverty in our country."

The Annual ACOSS Conference, 'Sharing the Wealth of the Lucky Country', will put community and social issues like this in the spotlight when it kicks off on Thursday in Sydney. It will explore how we are travelling as a nation in meeting the needs of people who experience poverty and inequality.

Australia's Treasurer Wayne Swan will open the annual event and continue the national conversation about how best to share the opportunities and prosperity of our country to ensure nobody is left behind from Australia's mining boom.

The conference brings together social, political and media commentators, including Eva Cox, Jennifer Westacott, Annabel Crabb, James valentine, Don Henry, Simon Sheikh, Adam Bandt PM, Minister Mark Butler, Minister Tanya Plibersek, Tim Costello, George Megalogenis, Hon Sussan Ley MP, and many more.

They'll join other leading experts, political leaders, researchers, and workers in the community sector to dissect a wide range of social policy topics and issues relevant to equality and community service in contemporary Australia.

Topics include:
• How to prevent the disparate impacts of rising living costs
• How to include the excluded in Australia's job market
• Supporting disability in the next decade
• How to protect our social safety net in an age of uncertainty
• Tackling the challenge of rising housing costs and homelessness
• Healthy lives, healthy communities
• Exploring new frontiers in social service
• Current reforms in the not-for-profit sector
• Young Leaders: New Directions (all youth panel)
• Imagining Australia in 2030 (high profile panel of social, political and media commentators)

To find out more about the conference >>.

See Program Outline>> and Complete Program >>.

Find out more about the ACOSS Allowances campaign: $35 is not enough!

To arrange media interviews call Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

ADVICE TO MEDIA: Journalists and film crews are advised to contact fernando@acoss.org.au by email or telephone to ensure we best facilitate your needs and entry at the venue.

Getting to the venue >> Australian Technology Park in in Sydney.

Speakers include:
• The Hon Wayne Swan | Treasurer
• Jody Broun | Co-chair, The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
• Adam Bandt | Greens MP, Member for Melbourne
• Annabel Crabb | Political Editor, ABC Online
• David Speers | Political Editor, Sky News
• George Megalogenis | Columnist, The Australian
• Jennifer Westacott | CEO, Business Council of Australia
• Eva Cox| Research Fellow, Jumbunna IHL, UTS
• James Valentine | ABC Local Radio Presenter
• Simon Sheikh | National Director, GetUp!
• Don Henry | CEO, Australian Conservation Foundation
• The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP | Minister for Health
• The Hon Sussan Ley MP | Opposition Spokesperson for Employment Participation
• Tim Costello | CEO, World Vision
• Lesley Hall | CEO, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
• Tshibanda Gracia Ngoy | Human Rights Young People's Medalist 2011

Don’t extend a flawed and uproven NT Intervention model

15 March 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has today called on the Commonwealth Government not to extend the flawed and unproven Northern Territory Intervention model, and instead to engage with local communities to put in place lasting solutions.

“There’s no doubt that opposition is mounting for the Federal Government, both to the extension of compulsory income management and social security payment suspensions where children don’t attend school,” said Dr Cassandra Goldie, ACOSS CEO.

“The overwhelming majority of submissions to the Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry, and the reports from all parties represented on the Committee recommended that the legislation not be passed in its present form.

“Peak Aboriginal organisations and ACOSS expressed concern about the draft Stronger Futures law to give power to the Minister to extend compulsory income management referrals from (un-named) state and territory authorities

“There is widespread opposition to extending SEAM – the School Enrolment Attendance Measure - which allows for cuts to the welfare payments of parents whose kids do not attend school. There is also little support for extending income management to six communities outside the Northern Territory.

“The Commonwealth should instead engage with communities, peak bodies, the Territory Government, and experts over the detail of what works best to improve school attendance, employment and social conditions in the communities - such as the positive steps to improve engagement between schools and local communities in the NT Government’ Every Child Every Day strategy.

“All parents should be required to take reasonable steps to ensure their children are enrolled and attend school. However, we oppose any sanctions that discriminate against people because they are on income support or from Aboriginal communities.

“The Government needs to move away from mandatory income management to a voluntary scheme, where individuals or communities agree that this would help them manage money and resolve entrenched social problems in communities.

“Many submissions stressed the importance of case management and support programs that will help parents overcome barriers to school attendance, as well as help people overcome financial management problems and addictions, with penalties used as a last resort.

"ACOSS maintains that without substantive evidence to show that the Northern Territory intervention is necessary and having a positive effect on the lives of Aboriginal people, the Government should halt its plan to extend such measures more widely,” Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

This will be one of the issues to be discussed at the up-coming ACOSS Conference on March 29-30 in Sydney. It will include a presentation by the co-chair of the newly formed National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Ms Jody Broun.

Find out more, including complete program >>

Wayne Swan kick-starts national debate about ‘fair’ sharing of nation’s wealth @ACOSS Conf’ce

9 March 2012

Australia's Treasurer Wayne Swan will open this year's ACOSS National Conference and present the Commonwealth Government's vision for improving equity and fairness in Australia.

The conference, titled 'Sharing the Wealth of the Lucky Country', will provide an ideal platform for the conversation that the Treasurer has been calling for - about ‘the kind of country we want to be' and how to ensure that everyone shares in the opportunities and prosperity of our great nation.

"This is a critical time in Australia's history and requires a national conversation so all voices are heard," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian council of Social Service.

"Last October's Tax Forum was an important beginning to bring the community into the discussion, with the community sector well represented, and equally sharing in the debates. The ACOSS Conference will broaden the discussion beyond issues of reform of the economy and taxation to look at the bigger question of who we are as a nation, and the kind of nation we want to be into the future.

"The conference brings together an excellent group of speakers including Annabel Crabb, Don Henry, Eva Cox, Jennifer Westacott, Mark Butler MP, Simon Sheikh, Tanya Plibersek, Tim Costello, George Megalogenis, Sussan Ley and many more.

"They'll join key leaders, researchers, and other workers in the community sector to dissect a wide range of social policy topics and issues relevant to equality and community service in contemporary Australia.

"We are particularly pleased to announce that the co-chair of the newly formed National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, Jody Broun, will present at the opening of the conference. ACOSS has long argued for a national representative voice for Australia's first peoples and is especially proud to have the Congress playing a part in our annual event.

At a time when Australians' material wealth has been booming, the ACOSS Conference will provide a forum for a diverse range of people to discuss the policy and practice which will put equality in Australia at the forefront of public debate," Dr Goldie said.

To arrange media interviews call Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

Find out more about the conference and program >>

Speakers include:
The Hon Wayne Swan | Treasurer
Jody Broun | Co-chair, The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
Adam Bandt | Greens MP, Member for Melbourne
Annabel Crabb | Political Editor, ABC Online
David Speers | Political Editor, Sky News
Don Henry | CEO, Australian Conservation Foundation
Eva Cox| Research Fellow, Jumbunna IHL, UTS
George Megalogenis | Columnist, The Australian
Jennifer Westacott | CEO, Business Council of Australia
Lesley Hall | CEO, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
Louise Tarrant | National Secretary, United Voice
Simon Sheikh | National Director, GetUp!
Tim Costello | CEO, World Vision
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP | Minister for Health
The Hon Sussan Ley MP | Opposition Spokesperson for Employment Participation
Tshibanda Gracia Ngoy | Human Rights Young People's Medalist 2011

Fair-Go should be extended to people on income support who are living in poverty

5 March 2012

The peak body for Australia's community sector, ACOSS, supports the Treasurer Wayne Swan's call for a national debate about ‘fair' sharing of Australia's wealth from the mining boom, but wants the notion of a fair go extended to people on social security payments such as Newstart, who are forced to live in poverty on just $35 per day.

"The Treasurer made some important points in his speech at the National Press Club today, especially in stressing that wealth creation is not simply about "putting dollars in people's pockets, but about building a better society; a society that provides opportunity to more people, a society that lifts up the worst-off, and gives everyone a decent shot at a decent life. "

"However, ACOSS is concerned that this sentiment is not being extended to the most disadvantaged in society, those on income support payments like Newstart, which hasn't seen an real increase since 1994," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"ACOSS has long argued for the growing disparity between people on income support payments to be addressed. For instance, because the Government indexes payments differently there is now a $131 per week gap between people who rely on Newstart and Sole Parents Allowance for their livelihoods compared to those on age, disability and carer pensions.

"This gap will widen further on March 20 to $132.90 with a new round of indexation. Both the Henry Review and the OECD have stressed the need for this gap to be redressed by raising allowances and for the Government to index all pensions and allowances in the same way. In fact the Henry Review calculated that at the current rate the gap between pensions and allowances will double by 2040. 

"There is a growing consensus in the wider community, ranging from business organisations, economists, the union movement, to the broad community and social services sector that the current rate of single Allowance payments is simply not enough for people to live on and is hindering their efforts to find paid work.

"More than 100 organisations and 400 individuals have so far signed an ACOSS statement supporting this sentiment. The statement also calls for greater investment in job training and case management of long term unemployed people to improve their opportunities to get a ‘fair go'.

"Unless the base rate of allowances is increased and indexed at the same level to meet the growing costs of essentials like rent, utilities and food, those at the very bottom will continue to be locked out and forced to live in poverty. Only then will we be able to help ‘lift up the worst-off and give everyone a decent shot at a decent life'," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

Both the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott have been invited to present their visions for improving equity and fairness in Australia at the ACOSS National Conference later this month, which we've titled, ‘Sharing the Wealth of the Lucky Country'.

Find out more about the ACOSS Conference >>

Find out more about the ACOSS Campaign: $35 a day is not enough!

Payment rates (per week)	July 2009	March 2012	Increase (2009-2012)	Increase (Jan – March 2012)
Single pension	$299	$377.75	$78.75	$3.35
Single Newstart Allowance	$227	$244.85	$17.85	$1.45
Gap between pension and Newstart Allowance	$72	$132.90	$60.90	$1.90
Sole parent on Newstart Allowance	$245	$264.90	$19.90	$1.60
Gap between pension and sole parent on Newstart Allowance	$54	$112.85	$58.85	$1.75

 

 

National debate about ‘fair’ sharing of Australia’s wealth long overdue

2 March 2012

The peak body for Australia's community sector, ACOSS, has backed the Treasurer Wayne Swan's call for a national debate about ‘the kind of country we want to be' and how best to share the wealth of our nation to ensure that Australia remains the country of a ‘fair go'. 

"Now is the time for this kind of debate with the resources boom leading to distortions in our two speed economy, and the growing pressures on important social services as our population ages. This is a critical time in Australia's history and we need a national conversation so all voices are heard," said Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, The Australian Council of Social Service.

"As we saw with the mining tax and the move to price carbon pollution, it is too easy for the loudest voices to dominate the debates. We need to be strengthening civil society, and enabling all voices to be heard, particularly the voices of people who are more vulnerable, now and into the future.

"Last October's Tax Forum was an important beginning to bring the community into the discussion, with the community sector well represented, and equally sharing in the debates. The Tax Forum lead to broad agreement among business, unions, community organisations and experts - that our economy and tax system should be reformed to tackle the costs of an ageing population, high housing prices, low productivity, and the challenges of workforce participation and poverty. Today, we have widely shared support, for example, that we must finally, and urgently, increase the income support for people who are unemployed. $35 a day is not enough.

"ACOSS argued that the Henry Report offered practical solutions to these problems and should be the starting point for such a discussion. We have supported Henry proposals such a resources rent tax; tackling income tax shelters and loopholes; making superannuation fairer to ensure retirement incomes for everyone; and ensuring a descent level of income support for the most disadvantaged people in our community. 

"We simply must secure the future revenue base to fund the vital services we all want, such as good health, education, aged and child care, and other support services. These issues aren't just about business interests. All sectors of society should be represented and heard in these key decisions because we all have a stake in our nation's future.

"These issues are high on the mind of Australia's community sector and will be the focus of the ACOSS National Conference later this month, which we've titled, ‘Sharing the Wealth of the Lucky Country'. We are delighted that business, civil society, academics, government, politicians, journalists, and consumer groups will all be present, engaged in this national discussion. 

"Both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have been invited to present their visions for improving equity and fairness in Australia and we hope this provides a platform for this much needed debate," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155 

Find out more about the ACOSS Conference >>

ACOSS welcomes extension for Charities and NFP Commission

1 March 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service welcomes the announcement today on the extension of time for the establishment of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. 

ACOSS has long championed the creation of a national regulator for charities and NFP organisations, and has praised the Government's willingness to engage and involve the sector at every stage of the process.

"We remain strongly committed to this critical reform as a key mechanism to reduce the overly onerous burden of regulatory responsibilities and unnecessary duplication of reporting by community services," said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"In particular, the capacity to report once for multiple use will significantly reduce the inefficiency of current systems and should improve service effectiveness.

"This reform is far too critical to be undermined by rushed implementation, or lack of time to ensure the sector is fully engaged with the new regulatory environment and its requirements.

"The extension of time is important to allow sector organisations to continue to work with the Government and the ACNC Implementation Taskforce.

"This will ensure that the national regulator is based on sound principles with an appropriate legislative basis and the support and engagement of the sector on which it is focused," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas - 0419 626 155

See more ACOSS papers and work on sector reform >>

National Coalition Calls for Housing Ministry at Cabinet Level to be Retained

29 February 2012

The National Affordable Housing Summit group today urged the Prime Minister to retain the recently-created Cabinet position for a Minister who has responsibility across all areas of housing policy. 

The Summit is a coalition comprising the Housing Industry Association, Australian Council of Social Service, Australian Council of Trade Unions, National Shelter, Residential Development Council, Homelessness Australia and Community Housing Federation of Australia. 

The independent chair of the Summit, Prof Julian Disney, said:

"The lack of affordable housing is a major national issue, affecting a very large number of people as well as the general economy. 

"Housing policy has suffered very badly from the lack of an integrated, specialist and high-level Housing Ministry at the Commonwealth level during the last fifteen years or so.

"The establishment late last year of a Housing Ministry at Cabinet level was a major improvement and it is essential that the position be maintained." 

For further information and comment, contact the Summit group at 0417-663-509 or 0417-975-270.

The National Affordable Housing Summit coalition is led by the Australian Council of Social Service, Housing Industry Association, National Shelter, Australian Council of Trade Unions and Community Housing Federation of Australia.

ACOSS hails means testing of private health insurance rebate

15 February 2012

The Australian Council of Social Service has warmly welcomed the passing of important legislation through the House of Representatives today that will lead to means testing of the private health insurance rebate. "This makes sense in terms of equity and the long term sustainability of our vital health system," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

"We all want our tax dollars to be used in the most effective way possible - targeted to the services we need as a community, as well as to those that most need it. Having low income earners, who can't afford private health insurance themselves, subsidise the health insurance of those who can afford it is unfair and unsustainable.

"ACOSS has long argued that the rebate disadvantages people on low incomes who can't afford the cost of private health insurance, and diverts vital funding from general public services. It is an inefficient use of Federal funds that runs counter to the principles of a universal health system, as well as a fair and equitable tax system.

"We believe that health expenditure needs to be targeted to improving health and access to services for those who are missing out. The reality is that private health is significantly more common for residents of capital cities and the rebate has done nothing to alleviate the structural barrier to affordable and timely health care in rural and regional areas with no or little access to GPs, specialists and after-hours care.

"At the same time, and contrary to popular wisdom, the rebate has failed in its aims to relieve pressure on the public health system. Evidence shows that when people with private insurance have an acute injury or illness, they will attend a publicly funded hospital for care.

"The rebate is a luxury we can no longer afford with the growing demands on the health system from our aging population. We have to use public funding wisely, which is why ACOSS is calling for the savings that will be made (around $2.4 billion over three years) to be redistributed to those currently missing out on standards of health that others take for granted. We've identified oral health as one of these crucial areas and we'll scrutinise the overall package carefully to evaluate what's been offered in this area.

"ACOSS congratulates parliamentarians for taking this brave move in the national interest. We want to ensure this extra money is used to help reduce inequities and improve health outcomes for all Australians," Dr Goldie said.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155

See Opinion Piece by Dr Cassandra Goldie: ‘Should the private health insurance rebate be means-tested?' - SMH February 11, 2012.