Justice, Opportunity and Shared Wealth for all South Australians
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Major study conducted jointly with the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network based on a survey of over 500 low income households and a series of focus groups. The study looks at the (in)adequacy of the Centrelink Telephone Allowance (CTA) and the gaps in the market's provision of appropriate telecommunication services.
Download Connectivity Costs
A summary of the cost of living changes in the June Quarter. This Update also includes a report on the results of a survey of 500 low income Australians about their household budgets and financial pressures.
A summary of cost of living changes in the March Quarter. There is no special feature in this Update.
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) commissioned the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) to conduct a joint research project on the affordability of telecommunications for low income consumers.
Download the Data Briefing Report Analogue Entitlements in a Digital Age
SACOSS’ report into gambling taxes in SA highlights growing pressures on the state budget from declining gambling tax revenues – but it is not necessarily good news for gamblers or the community. The SACOSS report notes that gambling taxes are the fifth biggest source of state taxes ($388m in 2014-15), but estimates that in real terms gambling tax revenue is now $111 a year less than it was a decade ago.
SACOSS has produced a Mid-Term Report Card on the State Labor Government’s performance. The Mid-Term Report Card assesses the performance of the Government against two benchmarks:
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Looking Around the Corner: A discussion on Current South Australian Power System Risks.
The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) has been active in South Australian energy market matters for some time, especially in relation to consumer protection, retail pricing and network determinations, but has not generally commented on issues associated with NEM (National Energy Market) wholesale markets … until now.
Summary of cost of living changes in the December Quarter 2015. The report also looks at cost of living pressures over the last decade, highlighting the goods and services that went up the least, and the most ("the good, the bad and the ugly"). The report contrasts these prices changes with changes in incomes and finds that those on Newstart have fallen further behind.
Better Solutions for Helping Customers with Financial Difficulties: Energy and Water. A cross-sector approach to supporting vulnerable consumers.
Download: Better Solutions for Helping Customers with Financial Difficulties: Energy and Water
The Retail and Exemption Framework: Emerging Issues for Consumers. A report on the growing concern with consumer protection arrangements for exempt consumers.
This report focuses on the retail and network exemption framework. On-sellers and embedded network operators (who are usually one and the same person) are granted an exemption by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) from obtaining a retailer authorisation, and (separately) an exemption from registration with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) as a distribution business.
