Media release by date
If you are looking for the community sector perspective on the Federal budget please visit the ACOSS website www.acoss.org.au.
2010 Media releases
05/03/10 Accessible homes needed, or force the elderly, frail and people with disabilities to live in expensive care homes
‘As the population ages Victorians prone to immobility such as people with disabilities, the elderly and frail could be forced to live in expensive care homes miles from families and loved ones unless the Victorian Government strengthens its proposed regulations to ensure new housing meets standards on disability access, warns the Victorian Council of Social Service.' (read more)
02/03/10 Shocking 'slum' conditions in Melbourne's public housing show need for minimum
standards
‘The appalling and often dangerous housing conditions endured by some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable families revealed in The Sunday Age yesterday has been condemned by the Victorian Council of Social Service as a failure of Government housing policy.04/02/10 Roll out review of ‘smart’ meters welcomed
Chief Executive of VCOSS Cath Smith said the Brumby Government must act immediately to introduce minimum standards for rental housing to ensure that all Victorians live in decent housing.' (read more)
‘Chief Executive of VCOSS Cath Smith urged the Victorian Energy Minister, Peter Batchelor, to carefully consider the impact that smart metering might have on low-income households in the review of the roll out. "We’re calling on the Minister to ensure that vulnerable people don’t get ripped off, or worse put their lives at risk because of the roll out of smart electricity meters."' (read more)2009 Media releases
22/12/09 Accessible housing RIS a Christmas win for senior Victorians
‘Today’s release of the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for Visitable and Adaptable Features in Housing brings the promise of safe housing for senior Victorians for the New Year,’ says Cath Smith, VCOSS CEO.’ (read more)9/12/09 Government failure on tram access breaking the law
‘The Auditor General’s report released today confirms that the Victorian Government is breaching its legislative obligation to provide access to trams,’ says Cath Smith, VCOSS CEO. ‘VCOSS calls on the Victorian Government to make a major new commitment to accessible transport in the 2010-11 State Budget to at a minimum meet its legislative obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act.’ (read more)7/12/09 Community organisations subsidise education costs
New Brotherhood of St Laurence research released today reveals that many children are only able to continue to participate in school because community organisations are picking up education costs that families cannot pay. “This highlights a major flaw in our education system,” says Cath Smith, VCOSS CEO and Equity in Education Alliance spokesperson. (read more)26/11/09 Outcomes for children about more than child protection
16/11/09 Memo to State Budget Committee: Time to support young Victorians‘VCOSS welcomes the Government’s commitment to implementing the Ombudsman’s recommendations around child protection, but this will not be enough to ensure vulnerable children and young people are properly protected,’ said Cath Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Council of Social Service. (read more)
05/11/09 Groups unite to make residential buildings accessible for all VictoriansProviding access and opportunity for young Victorians to education, training, transport and support services is at the heart of the VCOSS State Budget Submission for 2010-11 being launched today. (read more)
30/10/09 VCOSS welcomes action on rooming houses
14/10/09 Risk of heatwave deaths requires urgent action to legislate for minimum standards
29/09/09 VCOSS supports calls from the Coroner for licensing and standards to protect
rooming house residents
25/09/09 Risk management approach has failed vulnerable Victorians
27/08/09 Australia’s ‘Fair go’ threatened
24/08/09 VCOSS heat on winter energy concessions
12/08/09 New departments provide new opportunities and challenges
15/07/09 VCOSS Backs Brumby Blitz
26/06/09 RESEARCH OUTCOMES FACT SHEET: Under Pressure- Costs of living, financial
hardship and emergency relief
26/06/09 New Report on Emergency Relief reveals who’s Under Pressure in Rural and Regional Victoria
26/06/09 New Report on Emergency Relief reveals who’s Under Pressure
26/06/09 MEDIA ALTERT: New Report on Emergency Relief reveals who’s Under Pressure
14/05/09 Some transport relief in sight with federal budget
06/05/09 Tackling climate change cannot be put off
06/05/09 State Budget 09/10 - Decent spending in tough time
04/05/09 A welcome boost for community services
30/04/09 Investment for vulnerable children a welcome step
14/04/09 Accessible housing regulation a step in the right direction
03/04/09 Investment for Victoria’s most vulnerable children urgently required
19/03/09 Investment in community services the best budget choice to help all Victorians
11/03/09 Day of Action for Community Services at Parliament House
25/02/09 Governor of Victoria launches Communities in a Changing Climate Conference
09/02/09 VCOSS working with Victorian community to recover as fires still burn
03/02/09 Victorian Government can enhance Commonwealth economic stimulus package
15/01/09 Services for vulnerable Victorians under threat as State Government funding cuts bite
05/01/09 VCOSS calls for water concession to rise
2008 Media releases
22/12/08 Only regulated standards will ensure low income and vulnerable protected in the housing
market
22/12/08 VCOSS pays tribute to the hard working staff of the community sector
19/12/08 Victorians need stronger action on climate change
10/12/08 VCOSS welcomes national move to protect human rights
09/12/08 Transport Plan delivers landmark public transport infrastructure with more needed to
eliminate transport disadvantage
19/11/08 VCOSS welcomes positive improvements to taxi services
19/11/08 VCOSS tells the whole story on energy campaign
15/10/08 New report confirms that housing affordability is about more than rent and mortgages
01/10/08 Victorian Government urged to continue building a Fairer Victoria during financial crisis
19/08/08 VCOSS commits to Closing the Gap
29/07/08 Universal Housing delivers Universal Benefits
08/05/08 VCOSS welcomes Premier’s call for a Fairer Australia
07/05/08 Victorian Government kicks goals for children and education
06/05/08 Victoria not yet best and fairest - VCOSS Response to the State Budget
29/04/08 A new department – a new focus on transport
21/04/08 State budget must include a significant down payment to close the gap
17/04/08 State Government has the power to implement Prime Minister’s early years vision in next month’s budget
07/04/08 A Blueprint for much-needed improvement
26/03/08 Fluoridation reduces disadvantage in rural and regional communities
12/03/08 Auditor-General’s Report highlights need for major disability investment in State Budget
25/02/08 More than one in three 3 year olds miss out on early childhood programs
14/02/08 Energy and water bills to jump $1,500 by 2012 - Affordable Living Alliance launch today
30/01/08 Better school funding the key to top quality education for disadvantaged students
16/01/08 Disability advocates hand back two thirds of wheelchair to Treasury to protest funding
shortfall
02/01/08 Government gets good marks for effort on 'voluntary' school fees but room for
improvement, says VCOSS
2007 Media releases
14/12/07 Assisted reproductive technology: VCOSS supports levelling the playing field for Victorian
children
30/11/07 More help needed for Victorians slugged with bigger electricity bills
28/11/07 Cheaper weekend travel a plus for weekend workers and social outings
08/11/07 Interest rate rise causes family budget pain: VCOSS submission calls for State Budget
gain
22/10/07 Welfare agencies look for policy not personality to make Australia fair
04/10/07 'Price to beat' the key to competition
25/09/07 VCOSS supports today's Rally for Disability rights
18/09/07 Free pre-peak train travel a bonus for early workers
21/08/07 VCOSS league table show rents continue to rocket
16/08/07 Welcome decision to extend the energy safety net
15/08/07 Federal investment needed in public transport
14/08/07 Premier’s water increases smaller than expected but low income
households will still feel
the pain
10/08/07 Large families to pay $200 extra per water bill
08/08/07 Protect battlers from water price hike
27/07/07 VCOSS commends outgoing leaders, looks to the future
16/07/07 More than one in twenty Victorian households struggle to put food on the table
28/06/07 New VCOSS website launched today
27/06/07 Environment, social and transport groups call for a peak oil management plan
26/06/07 Petrol price mayhem Conference to consider impacts and plan solutions
20/06/07 Protect households from water price shock
12/06/07 State disability budget shortfall of 1.2% per capita
07/06/07 Changes to assisted reproduction and adoption long overdue
29/05/07 Public transport the key to avoiding divided city
21/05/07 Public tenants hit with $21.78 a week rent rise
01/05/07 Housing the winner in the state budget
27/04/07 State budget must deliver on drought and disadvantage
16/03/07 Model utilities framework a big step forward
15/03/07 Without public transport, road pricing unfair
16/03/07 Surplus
an opportunity to right Victoria’s housing wrong
12/02/07 VCOSS state wide rent hike league table released today
06/02/07 Rent rises rob renters the price of an island holiday
2006 Media releases
19/12/06 Energy price caps essential to keep prices affordable
21/11/06 Liberals good on gambling, Greens good on ideas, but Labor are the services leader
21/11/06 Mandatory minimum sentences unjust
20/11/06 Labor ahead on addressing disadvantage
10/11/06 Time for a barrier free state for people with disabilities
10/11/06 Train extensions a plus but don’t forget the bus
02/11/06 VCOSS state election website launched
01/11/06 South Morang extension good news for Melbourne’s north
27/10/06 Public housing ramp up a solution to shocking standards for homeless referrals
26/10/06 Good news to public transport users if fares cut
23/10/06 Its time for a decision on accessible housing
10/10/06 South-West Coast candidates on the spot on housing
09/10/06 Youth service gaps leaving young people without vital supports
04/10/06 Cuts to stamp duty won’t help first home buyers