ACOSS Reports & Submissions
Sector Development
January 2012
Joint COSS Submission in response to the Treasury Australian Charities and NFP Commission exposure draft and Governance Arrangements Consultation Paper. In this paper we set out particular concerns with respect to the over-reaching scope of the enabling legislation for the Commission; the lack of clarity about the independence of the Commission; and the prescriptive tenor of the governance arrangements proposed.We conclude by addressing two areas that remain unclear in terms of the elgislative framework to enable the ACNC and its commencement. These are how the ACNC's Objects can best capture responsibilities to the sector and its clients or stakeholders, beyond those of public accountability; and how the extent of the ACNC's powers and its expectations of the sector will take account of existing or other responsibilities by charities and NFPs.
January 2012
In this submission, ACOSS outlines policy recommendations for consideration by the Federal Government in its 2012-13 Budget. The submission aims to resolve the tension between the Govern-ment’s commitment to restore the Budget to surplus from 2012-13 and the urgency of social and economic needs not yet met, of key social and economic reforms not yet completed.
Our priority for the 2012-13 Federal Budget remains to ensure that no person is excluded from the benefits of economic growth and prosperity and from the opportunity to fully participate in society. Some of the policy building blocks to meet this goal have been laid, including the commitment to introduce a National Disability Insurance Scheme, the emerging policy focus on employment participation for people excluded from the labour market, and last year’s mental health reform package.
August 2011
This submission is based on the COSS networks analyses of the implications of work valuation, workforce challenges, government contracting policies and funding arrangements, and the introduction of the modern award on community services in Australia.
THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE UNDERVALUATION OF WORK PERFORMED IN THE COMMUNITY SECTOR IS REFERABLE TO GENDER
Fair Work Australia's interim decision (16 May 2011)
1. The COSSes congratulate FWA on the finding that for employees in the community sector there is not equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal or comparable value by comparison with state and local government employment.
2. The COSSes agree with FWA that undervaluation of the work performed in the SACS-covered sector is the result of a combination of factors.
3. The COSSes agree with FWA's conclusion that employers in the community sector
...value the work of their employees and would like to attract and retain the best employees possible and reward them on a fair basis given the work they perform and wages paid in the community.
4. The COSSes urge FWA to set rates which properly value the work of the community sector. We consider this a necessary step towards resolving the gender related undervaluation that exists in the funding and contracting arrangements between governments and the sector.
5. FWA sought submissions from the parties on the extent to which we consider,
...wage rates in the SACS industry are lower than they would otherwise be because of gender considerations, including how the amount of the gender related undervaluation of the work of the classifications in the industry should be calculated and concrete estimates of that gender related undervaluation.
June 2011
This is the ACOSS submission to the Australian Tax Office's Draft Taxation Ruling TR 2011/D2 (Draft Taxation Ruling). ACOSS has detailed our position on the need for charitable tax law reform and the need for improved regulation for the not-for-profit sector in many of our submissions including those to the Productivity Commission's Inquiry into the contribution of the not-for-profit. ACOSS supports the view that the Draft Tax Ruling upholds the High Court decision regarding Aid/Watch v Tax Commissioner. ACOSS believes that the High Court decision and the subsequent draft Taxation Ruling has overturned outdated restrictions concerning the advocacy activities of charities and presents a clearer way forward for the not-for-profit sector.
June 2011
This document was developed as part of a delegation led by ACOSS with its state Directors and CEO's to Canberra as part of our ongoing campaign to secure a Federal Government commitment to fully fund the outcome of equal pay before Fair Work Australia. It outlines ther background to the important test-case and the sector's key demands and was produced for distribution to Government ministers, MPs and Senators.
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
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
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
February 2011
ACOSS' submission on a national regulator argues strongly for an independent body to streamline reporting and information about not-for-profit organisations. We set out key principles and function of the regulator, and call for full and effective consultation on detailed plans for a regulator with not-for-profit organisations. This submission was prepared in response to a Treasury Scoping Study.
