ACOSS Reports & Submissions
Each year ACOSS prepares numerous submissions to the Federal Government. We also undertake research and produce reports on policy areas that impact disadvantaged Australians. The latest ACOSS submissions and topical papers appear below as downloadable links.
Most recent papers
June 2011
Improved energy use-efficiency presents significant opportunities for individual households and for the wider community. This document outlines proposals for two national projects that would increase residential energy efficiency and bring a range of benefits.
Objectives:
• To minimise energy bills for Australian households
• To increase energy efficiency and thereby reduce the need for new generation and network investment
• To incentivise greater uptake of energy efficiency by low-income and financially stressed households and by the owners of rental properties (public and private)
• To provide specific support for low-income and financially stressed households that are at risk of fuel poverty
• To implement efficient, effective and safe programs for energy efficiency
June 2011
Following the Federal Budget, ACOSS wrote to all Federal MPs and senators raising our concerns about Budget cuts to social security payments for sole parents, people with disabilities and young unemployed people. The letter is attached. ACOSS also welcomed Budget decision to improve the job prospects of unemployed people by introducing wage subsidies for long term unemployed people, easing income tests, and expanding intensive employment and support programs in disadvantaged regions. However we don't believe it is necessary to cut people's payments to improve their employment prospects and have lobbied to have the cuts reversed, including visits to federal MPs and Senators on 23 June.
June 2011
These talking points have been developed to assist the sector in campaigning for government commitments to fully fund the outcome of equal pay before Fair Work Australia. While we are maintaining our campaign for all governments to make this commitment, our starting point is the Commonwealth, both for the services it funds directly, and for the funding it delivers to the states and territories.
June 2011
ACOSS have developed materials to assist the sector in campaigning for government commitments to fully fund the outcome of equal pay before FWA. While we are maintaining our campaign for all governments to make this commitment, our starting point is the Commonwealth, both for the services it funds directly, and for the funding it delivers to the states and territories. This letter is designed to go to federal MPs to urge them to back a commitment to funding a successful outcome in the test case.
June 2011
ACOSS' submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee on the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 recommends that:
- the delay of access to the Disability Support Pension while applicants participate in a 'program of support be opposed;
- the provisions that freeze the Family Tax Benefit supplements be opposed; and
- the provisions that freeze various family payment income thresholds be supported.
June 2011
Welcome to this Special Bulletin from ACOSS on sector developments. There is so much underway in terms of reforms that will impact on the community sector, we have dedicated an entire Bulletin to updating our members on what's happening and what ACOSS is doing about it. In this Bulletin we provide updates on the equal pay case and various reforms that will impact on the sector.
May 2011
As the peak national organisation of the community sector and advocate for low income and disadvantaged people, ACOSS has a long standing interest in minimum wages. We have regularly made submissions on minimum wage fixation to industrial tribunals since the mid 1990s.
May 2011
This analysis was undertaken by Solange Frost, Senior Policy Officer, NCOSS
The 2011 Federal Budget makes a significant new investment in mental health and regional health while generally maintaining existing program funding in other areas.
The total investment in mental health and rural and remote health is $3.5bn over five years, which includes $2.5bn in new funding. Oral health receives a small investment of $53.1m over four years, as a pre-cursor to significant reform in 2012-13.
Some small cost-saving measures are achieved from program reforms, including pathology and hearing services. Future cost savings are anticipated from means-testing the Private Health Insurance Rebate and closing the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme.
May 2011
This submission outlines ACOSS proposals for future COAG priorities under the deregulation agenda, including to improve the regulatory environment of the not-for-profit sector.
PDF version
Word version
