ACOSS Reports & Submissions
Economics & Tax
April 2010
ACOSS today released ten critical questions that should be answered by the Henry tax review to ensure Australia builds an equitable and efficient tax system with enough revenue for the community in the future.
"The Henry review has a once-in-a-generation chance to lock-in key reforms to guarantee there is adequate public revenue to fund services and income support needed by Australians as the population ages," said Clare Martin, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service.
March 2010
Recommendations for the Federal Budget 2010-11
In this submission, ACOSS outlines policy recommendations for consideration by the Federal Government in its 2010-11 Budget. These recommendations allow the Government to continue its vital funding for social security payments; for social and community services to alleviate the effects of poverty and its consequent social exclusion; and to prioritise the expenditure of public funds in the context of the global recession and its impact upon revenue.
Specifically, ACOSS is urging the Federal Government to tackle growing disadvantage among unemployed Australians by setting up a program of paid work experience and by lifting unemployment payments for singles by $45 per week.
March 2010
In this submission, ACOSS advocates for the development of a national official cost of living index. We highlight the limitations of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as it is currently measured as an indicator of changes in the cost of living, while acknowledging that the index plays an important role as a measure of general inflation and informs monetary policy.
ACOSS' submission also outlines the importance of the consumer price index and its implications for the community sector and low income people because :
- CPI indexes some social security payments, including allowances
- Community sector organisations' funding agreements are often indexed to CPI
- CPI is the only existing official measure of changes in the cost of living.
November 2009
While Australia’s family payment system is mostly well targeted and are relatively effective in keeping families out of poverty by assisting with the costs of children, ACOSS has proposed key changes that would reduce disadvantage among families earning less than $40,000.
November 2009
This report argues that the key to progressive tax reform is to strengthen the personal income tax system and puts forward a set of benchmarks and options for reform. These will be used by ACOSS to evaluate the proposals of the Henry Review when it is released in coming months.
September 2009
ACOSS strongly supported the two economic stimulus packages, the first of which was introduced a year ago. This inquiry is timely as it provides an opportunity to review these initiatives, and to make adjustments where necessary.
The evidence indicates that the package prevented a steeper and more prolonged slowdown in growth and saved jobs.
June 2009
ACOSS has warned that 360,000 of the poorest families in Australia are being left behind by legislation being examined by a Senate Committee which increases payments for age, disability and carer pensioners but which fails to include sole parent pensioners.
ACOSS has urged that the Committee recommend changes to the legislation so that sole parents on Parenting Payment Single also receive the pension increase.
May 2009
ACOSS has prepared this briefing on the 2009-10 Federal Budget. This paper explains the funding announcements made in the Budget in relevant areas of interest to ACOSS members. It does not offer extensive comment on the merit of these measures. It is intended to assist member organisations in their work.
March 2009
The ACOSS submission to the Fair Pay Commission on minimum wages calls for an increase in the Federal Minimum Wage at least equal to the level of inflation, so that the living standards of low paid workers do not decline. Overall wage rises across the economy should be modest to help prevent job losses in the economic downturn, but the burden of restraint should not fall disproportionately on low paid workers. ACOSS argues that minimum wages should be benchmarked to a living standard for a single adult that is well above poverty levels. Minimum wages also play an important role in preventing poverty and maintaining work incentives for jobless people.
March 2009
Submission to the Taxation Review Panel. ACOSS welcomes this review of public support for retirement incomes. Despite substantial changes over the past two decades, including the introduction of the superannuation guarantee and major changes to the age pension and the tax treatment of superannuation, the system as a whole has not been comprehensively reviewed.
