ACOSS 2008-09 Annual Report

November 2009

Submission to Australian Workforce Development Strategy

November 2009

In this submission to the Australian Workforce Development Strategy underway by Skills Australia, ACOSS argues that social policy is a vital context for workforce development and sustainability and must not be ignored within strategies to address future issues.

Submission to Inquiry into the migration treatment of people with a disability

November 2009

This submission addresses the ongoing discrimination faced by migrants under the Migration Act and in relation to social security policy.

The submission argues for the application of human rights to the Migration Act and for reform of the tax and transfer system to ensure that migrants with a disability are able to access the same social security entitlements as all Australians.

ACOSS Paper: Personal Income Tax Reform - Henry Review

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.

Submission: Better Dealings with Government: Innovation in Payments and Information Services

November 2009

ACOSS welcomes proposals to reduce the complexity of the income support payment system and the administrative burden on recipients. However, we have serious concerns about broader payment reforms which would impose greater restrictions and controls over spending patterns, reduce the autonomy of recipients and erode privacy.

National Human Rights Consultation Report

October 2009

Presentation on economic, social and cultural rights: Consultation report findings and recommendations

Joint COSS submission on a Compact between the Australian Government and the not-for-profit sector

October 2009

This submission draws on our experience with Compacts and related processes in states and territories across the country; and from our ongoing involvement in the process towards a national Compact including dialogue with our members, the broader community services sector (the sector) and the Australian Government.

ACOSS Submission to Inquiry into Homelessness Legislation

September 2009

The White Paper on Homelessness, The Road Home, included a Commonwealth Government commitment to ‘implement new legislation to ensure people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness receive quality services and adequate support to meet their needs'. ACOSS welcomes the announcement of this Inquiry to progress this White Paper commitment.

Submission : Inquiry into the Government’s economic stimulus initiatives

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.

Mental Health - Submission to Senate Select Committee on Mental Health

August 2009

It is estimated that about 3% of the Australian population suffers from a serious mental illness and that about one in five will suffer from a clinically definable mental illness at
some stage in their lives. The task of dealing with mental illness and promoting good mental health goes beyond the capacity of the mental health system and the health system in general.

ACOSS Info paper 376. Includes: Mental health. Mental illness. National Mental Health Plan. Social security payments. Disability Support Pension. Poverty. Disability services. Housing and homelessness. Health care system. Private Health Insurance Subsidy. Medicare Safety Net.