This Update contains a summary of cost of living changes for different households in the December Quarter showing that last quarter's low inflation flowed through to only minor increases in the cost of living for age pensioners (in particular) and other social security recipients - although the situation may have been different for renters. There was no special issue focus in this Update.
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No.45, December Quarter 2020 - Summary
3 February 2021
Raise The Rate for Good
21 January 2021
Raise the Rate for Good
Calling your Member of Parliament - as an organisation
Step 1. Plan what you want to say
Politicians need to hear from local services about the effect of the government’s decision to double income support payments, and how this was the right thing to do.
Make sure to mention:
Budget spend positive, but lacked targeted investment
10 November 2020
Recovery spending welcome, but missed investing in most impacted
No.44, September Quarter 2020 - Telecommunications
7 November 2020
This Update contains a summary of cost of living changes for different households in the September Quarter showing that last quarter's anomalous deflation had disappeared, but payments to age pensioners and other social security recipients covered cost increases this quarter (although the cut to the Coronavirus Supplement would have significant impacts for many households). This report also contains a special feature summarising the South Australian telecommunications affordability data from the recently released Australian Digital Inclusion Index.
Paying to Work
15 September 2020
Paying to Work: Employment Issues in SACOSS’ Telecommunications Affordability and Waged Poor Households Report, points to the frequent use of personal telecommunications services and devices for work purposes – and subsequently to cost and fairness issues arising from that usage. These issues are particularly important given that, by definition, the workers concerned are living below the poverty line.
National Consumer Roundtable on Energy Impact Statement - September 2019 to August 2020
15 September 2020
The National Consumer Roundtable on Energy (Roundtable) is an informal coalition of national and jurisdictional energy consumer advocates primarily focussed on policy dialogue and strategic collaboration. Established in 2004 with funding through Energy Consumers Australia (ECA), it is currently convened and coordinated by SACOSS and governed by a steering committee. This impact statement reports on the Roundtable's activities, outcomes and impacts over the period from September 2019 to August 2020.
Towards Equitable Access to Clean Water and Sanitation for All South Australians: SACOSS Discussion Paper
17 August 2020
Access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right, with Australia a signatory to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. In a state with low and variable rainfall, South Australia faces particular challenges around managing a reliable and secure water supply. This discussion paper attempts to map existing water-related polices, monitoring frameworks and activities in South Australia to identify gaps and opportunities to deliver on SDG 6.
Connectivity Costs II: Telecommunications Affordability and Waged Poor Households
11 August 2020
The Connectivity Costs II: Telecommunications Affordability and Waged Poor Households report follows our 2016 Connectivity Costs report which looked at telecommunications affordability for those primarily reliant on Centrelink incomes. This new report focuses on telecommunications affordability for those households living below the poverty line but whose main source of income is wages.
No.43, June Quarter 2020 - COVID-19
5 August 2020
This Update contains a summary of cost of living changes for different households in the June Quarter as the COVID-19 crisis hit. With a rare deflationary quarter, the cost of living story was entirely about income. Those who maintained their income would have found themselves better off financially, while those whose jobs disappeared or had hours reduced would obviously have struggled despite lower prices and ongoing consumer protections.
The Energy Project - Research report on community scale batteries and lower energy costs for consumers
8 July 2020
SACOSS engaged The Energy Project to understand under what economic and governance models community scale batteries may assist low income households to reduce electricity expenditure in rental or social housing settings, as well as assistance for communities rebuilding post bushfires.