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.
You are here
Energy, Water & Climate Change
Towards Equitable Access to Clean Water and Sanitation for All South Australians: SACOSS Discussion Paper
17 August 2020
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.
Annual SACOSS Briefing to the Minister for Human Services
2 July 2020
The Annual SACOSS Briefing to the Minister for Human Services 2020 discusses water pricing issues affecting South Australian consumers and discusses the outcome of the SA Water Regulatory Determination 2020-24, changes to the Water Retail Code - Major Retailers, water issues in remote Aboriginal communities, the impact of COVID-19, and cost of living issues.
Annual SACOSS Briefing to the Minister for Energy
1 July 2020
The Annual SACOSS Briefing to the Minister for Energy 2020 discusses historical and current issues related to wholesale costs on the National Electricity Market (NEM), as these are a significant contribution to electricity prices in SA. Between 2017 and 2019 the majority of tariff increases in SA were attributed to wholesale electricity costs. This briefing also discusses some of the changes and impacts COVID-19 has had for energy demand and affordability.
Scoping Study on Water Issues in Remote Aboriginal Communities
30 June 2020
SACOSS Scoping Study identifying some of the current key water issues affecting residents of Aboriginal communities in remote South Australia
Download: Scoping Study on Water Issues in Remote Aboriginal Communities
Annual SACOSS Briefing to the Minister on Water
30 June 2020
The Annual SACOSS briefing on water pricing issues affecting South Australian consumers addresses communal debt for water supply in remote Aboriginal communities in South Australia, water security in regional and remote communities, and the Water Industry Act 2012 Review.
Working to Make Ends Meet: Low-income Workers and Energy Bill Stress
20 November 2019
Against a backdrop of increasing electricity prices, energy affordability has been an ongoing concern for many Australians. Historically, earning a living wage (particularly in a full-time permanent capacity) may have protected households from energy-related bill stress. However, this report shows this is no longer the case for many households – a fact which could challenge prevailing orthodoxy about who is in poverty.
Purple Orange: Water Consumers Research Project 2 - High water needs of people living with disability and their families in South Australia
30 August 2019
Purple Orange: Water Consumers Research Project 2 - High water needs of people living with disability and their families in South Australia
Annual SACOSS Briefing to the Minister for Human Services 2018-19: Water Pricing Issues Affecting South Australian Consumers
30 June 2019
The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) is responsible for delivering the Consumer Advocacy and Research Fund (CARF) Program through the Department of Human Services. As part of the Service Agreement, SACOSS is required to provide an annual briefing to the Minister for Human Services (“Minister”) about water pricing issues affecting South Australian consumers. This briefing paper fulfills this requirement.
Annual SACOSS Briefing to the Minister for Energy 2018-19: Energy Pricing Issues Affecting South Australian Consumers
30 June 2019
As per the funding agreement with the Minister for Energy and Mining (“Minister”) for the Residential Energy Consumers Representation in Energy Regulatory Determinations, Policy Making and Market Monitoring/Development Project, SACOSS is required to provide an
annual briefing to the Minister about energy pricing issues that affect South Australian consumers. The briefing is to include provision of an ongoing comparison between South Australia and Victoria as a benchmarking tool. This paper fulfills this annual briefing output.