ACTCOSS ACT for Community Campaign. ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles says the “ACT Government must commit to increased investment in its community sector to ameliorate historic under-resourcing”. Photo: ACTCOSS.
The Canberra Liberals have pledged to undertake a full audit of government assets to ascertain what facilities are currently not in use and could be repurposed for use by the community sector if elected to lead government.
“Many community sector organisations don’t have permanent spaces to undertake their work and are having to compete in the private market, which is unsustainable. In addition, many of [the] spaces that have been provided by the government are not fit for purpose,” Shadow Community Services Minister Leanne Castley said.
The opposition has also promised to undertake a comprehensive and transparent review with community sector organisations to provide certainty and ensure funding arrangements are keeping up with demand and future growth requirements.
In July 2024, peak welfare body ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS) launched ACT for Community, a campaign calling for an urgent increase in funding for the community sector.
Some 50 community groups joined forces to support a movement that argued that government funding had not kept pace with Canberra’s growing population and demand for services.
Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee vows her party will offer more support to not-for-profit organisations that deliver essential services to our most vulnerable residents.
“[The review] is in addition to a commitment of $5 million over the first two years of a Canberra Liberals Government to undertake the necessary urgent work to existing facilities to ensure they are fit for purpose,” Ms Lee said.
“The Canberra Liberals will also commit funding of $2 million to undertake a two-year pilot of a Community Transport Program.
“The community sector is an integral part of the ACT community and makes a significant contribution to the social, emotional and economic well-being of Canberra.
“With the cost of living spiralling over recent years, demand for their services has significantly increased and support for our community sector has not kept up with increasing demand.
“The review will be undertaken by a new community sector unit in [the Chief Minister’s department] and will ensure that there is no additional administrative burden placed on organisations. It will also consider issues like the impact of legislative changes such as increases to the superannuation guarantee and increases in population are accounted for in funding arrangements.”
Funding for the community sector was a hot topic at an Anti-Poverty Week debate hosted by ACTCOSS, which included the Canberra Liberals’ Mark Parton, Labor’s Yvette Berry, the Greens’ Emma Davidson and Independents for Canberra’s Thomas Emerson. Photo: Supplied.
Funding for the community sector was a key topic at an Anti-Poverty Week pre-election debate hosted by ACTCOSS with Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn on Monday (14 October).
Minister Emma Davidson (ACT Greens), Minister Yvette Berry (ACT Labor), Thomas Emerson (Independents for Canberra) and Mark Parton MLA (Canberra Liberals) gathered to discuss how their parties, if elected, would address the growing issue of poverty in the ACT.
Over 50 people from the community and community sector organisations were present to ask questions of the candidates and voice their priorities for tackling poverty.
“Too many Canberrans are struggling to afford the basics like food and shelter. Income support rates are simply too low, housing is unaffordable and unattainable, and community services underfunded and overstretched – leaving some families one crisis away from homelessness. We need decisive and urgent action,” ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles said.
“At a minimum, the federal government must raise the rate of income support payments to at least $82 a day. Additionally, the ACT Government must increase social housing to 10 per cent of all housing stock by 2036. And finally, the ACT Government must commit to increased investment in its community sector, to keep pace with growing demand and population growth and to ameliorate historic under-resourcing.”
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