ACOSS's submission to the Fair Pay Commission calls for a substantial rise in minimum wages to help ease financial pressures on low paid workers from rising rents, food and fuel prices. It argues that the financial security of low paid households rests on three pillars: minimum wages, employment, and income support and that it would...

ACOSS's submission to Ministers on the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy deals with the causes of poor employment outcomes for people with disabilities (less than 40% of people with disabilities are employed with little progress made over the last 15 years) and policy recommendations to improve them including reform of social security payments...

Community services have experienced a sharp increase in demand, according to this report, which provides information on service use, income, expenditure and workforce issues for the community services and welfare sector. The survey of non-government agencies found a 6.3 per cent increase in the number of people assisted by community service agencies between 2005-06 and...

This report argues that energy efficiency is potentially the quickest and cheapest way to cut greenhouse pollution. Energy savings of 30% are possible using immediately available effective technologies. The report recommends that efficiency improvements be complemented by appropriate utility tariffs and safety net measures. The report, a joint project between the Australian Council of Social...

In 2007, despite the strong economy and large budget surpluses many Australians are not enjoying a decent standard of living. Australia Fair held extensive consultations in every State and Territory in 2006 to identify what the public thinks are the 10 essentials to ensure a fair go for all Australians. This report releases new figures...