Support ACOSS in developing sound policy and undertake effective advocacy on the needs of people affected by poverty, disadvantage and inequality, and to build a strong and sustainable community sector.
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August 2010
ACOSS' Election Platform outlines key priorities to build a fair Australia which ensures people on low incomes are not excluded because of social or economic disadvantage. We are calling for commitments from our political leaders on issues including: Work and income support; Affordable Housing; Oral health; Indigenous; Tax; Climate change; and measures to Strengthen the Community Sector.
July 2010
The new job seeker compliance system which started in July 2009 is more flexible than the old 'three strikes and you're out' system but there's still too much punishment and too little help for unemployed people, especially young people and Indigenous people.
This submission gives our assessment of the new activity test compliance and penalty regime for recipients of Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payment and recommendations to improve it.
June 2010
From 1 July 2010 major changes are due to be made to the way income support payments are paid to recipients in the Northern Territory, and potentially across Australia.
Income management fundamentally changes the way social security benefits are paid. It will apply in blanket fashion to entire categories of recipients in regions nominated by the Minister. Yet the legislation has been passed in the absence of adequate public debate or consultation with those directly affected, and with the relevant national community organisations.
This policy analysis, Compulsory Income Management: A flawed answer to a complex issue, looks at the major aspects of the scheme.
April 2010
ACOSS has released its five benchmarks for equitable social security reforms, asking whether the Henry report will:
1. Equalise core social security payments for people of working age (pensions and allowances)?
2. Propose new supplements for people with disabilities, sole parent families, and job search and training expenses?
3. Increase in Family Tax Benefits and Youth Allowances to prevent poverty among families with older children?
4. Reform social security income tests to encourage unemployed people to seek part time and casual jobs?
5. Simplify income testing and taxation for pensioners?
April 2010
ACOSS is calling for the introduction of a single base payment rate for all people of working age on income support to fix problems in the current system where some people are paid $120 per week less than others.
In a report released today, ACOSS says payments to over 2 million Australians - disability support pensioners, carers, sole parents, unemployed people and students - should be overhauled.
Base payments would be topped up for extra costs, such as rent, disability, caring, education and training. Couples would receive 1.5 times the single rate.
March 2010
This is the first minimum wage case conducted by the new wage setting body, Fair Work Australia, though ACOSS has prepared major submission on minimum wages since 1996. In this submission ACOSS argues for a substantial increase in minimum wages to recover some of the ground lost by low paid workers as a result of last year's minimum wage decision by the former Fair Pay Commission, which did not increase minimum wages at all. We argue 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.
February 2010
Inquiry into the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination Act) Bill 2009 and related bills.
ACOSS, along with our membership, have very serious concerns about the provisions in the Government bills being considered by the Committee due to their potential impact on low income Australians. The national compulsory income scheme which would be enabled by this legislation represents a top-down, one-size-fits-all, bureaucratic solution to complex social problems facing individuals and local communities. It is poorly targeted and expensive and will inflict shame and indignity on income support recipients.
February 2010
Submission to Senate Community Affairs Committee
In this submission ACOSS argues that the proposed extension of compulsory income management to affected income support recipients across the country would represent a major shift in Australian social security policy. In a clear extension beyond the proper role of the social security system, the proposed scheme would impose an unprecedented degree of behavioural control. It would be expensive, intrusive and unnecessary. ACOSS is concerned that the scheme is likely to make the lives of income support recipients more difficult and less dignified - constraining income support recipients' choices, imposing a considerable administrative burden and removing autonomy over individual finances.
ACOSS calls for the withdrawal of the compulsory income management provisions in the Welfare Reform Bill . We offer an alternative approach to reduce poverty and social exclusion, including adequate income support payments, improved employment assistance for long-term unemployed people, paid work experience, enhanced support services and voluntary income management, on an individual or community-basis.
December 2009
The Federal Government should immediately halt its plans to expand compulsory income management across Australia, and instead redirect funding to programs that address social problems and disadvantage.
As community organisations working to reduce poverty and social disadvantage, we call on the Government to withdraw the compulsory income management provisions of the Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act Bill 2009.
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.