Justice, Opportunity and Shared Wealth for all South Australians

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Media

Read our latest media releases, catch up on anything you missed from the our radio program Small Change, and comment on issues and ideas in our blog. 

Connection crisis for struggling households

13 August 2020

- Telecommunications unaffordable for waged poor -

SACOSS condemns stalling on changing the age of criminal responsibility by the Australian Council of Attorneys-General

27 July 2020

The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) has condemned the further criminalisation of children as a result of a delayed response to change the age of criminal responsibility. In a meeting held on Monday 27 July by the Australian Council of Attorneys-General, the urging to change the age of criminal responsibility from ten years of age to a minimum of 14 years was stalled, with the Council calling for more work to be done.

Gendered Work and Coronavirus

7 June 2020

When social distancing and isolation at home was first required as a response to the coronavirus there was recognition of the potential for increases in domestic/family violence as families would be closely confined and violent and abusive patterns exacerbated. However, while these family violence issues are in the public domain, less acute but more widespread are the differing and gendered economic impacts of the pandemic.

Forecast for residential energy bills reduction: SACOSS welcomes AER decision

5 June 2020

SACOSS welcomes the $40 forecast reduction in energy bills for average residential energy consumers next year, resulting from the Australian Energy Regulator’s decision on the amount of revenue SA Power Networks can recover for 2020-2025. 

Calls for a further SA stimulus package as extent of jobs crisis becomes clearer

1 June 2020

The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) today released analysis of the ABS April jobs data which reveals a much larger job crisis facing South Australia. In response, SACOSS is calling for another state stimulus package in addition to the measures announced in the Marshall Government’s $650m Jobs Rescue Package which was released in late March.

Tax reform's role in SA's post-pandemic recovery

18 May 2020

by Ross Womersley

However long the economic recovery from COVID-19 takes, there is no doubt that the state government finances will be a challenge.

Low interest rates mean access to finance is as cost effective as it has ever been and therefore we can, and should, run budget deficits to enable us to rebuild the economy post COVID-19.

Growing SA unemployment highlights need to extend JobKeeper and JobSeeker

14 May 2020

COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in SA with today’s figures showing a whopping 200,000 South Australians now out of work or looking for more work.

SACOSS in response is calling on the Federal Government to maintain and extend vital coronavirus supports, and is also asking those who haven’t taken a financial hit to consider doing their part by donating to local charities.

Call for more charity as cost of living data shows some households better off during crisis

6 May 2020

The South Australian Council of Social Service today launched its latest Cost of Living Update looking at the impact of the summer’s bushfires and the coronavirus on SA households. The report shows how the coronavirus particularly has impacted differently on different households. Those who lost jobs or working hours, especially those who are outside the government safety net, have obviously been hit hard, but some households are likely to be financially better off: those working extra hours, or simply maintaining their incomes but with lower living costs.

Coronavirus Tracing and Digital Inclusion

16 April 2020

The government is looking to utilise a location app for tracing people who have come into contact with someone carrying coronavirus. Such contact-tracing is vital for controlling the spread of the virus and (if there are appropriate privacy safeguards) an app may be of great use in this process, but not everyone will have the choice to use this service. Those without smart phones and data, or who don’t have the digital literacy to use such an app are at risk of being missed in contact tracing, potentially putting them – and the community – at greater risk.

SA: The Heaps Unfair State

27 March 2020

The Heaps Unfair State: Why have health inequities increased in South Australia and how can this trend be reversed?

SA: The Heaps Unfair State report - produced by the Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity at Flinders University and the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) - provides evidence that shows a significant increase in inequities in South Australia since the 1980s and also recommends how to improve this state’s health outcomes.