TasCOSS’s communications and advocacy programs work to hold governments to account and lead public debate. Human Rights sit at the basis of all TasCOSS activity and the organisation models respectful, compassionate and constructive discussion as it challenges systems, behaviours and attitudes.
Activity in this area during the reporting period included:
The problems in our hospital systems won’t be solved in our hospitals. TasCOSS’s Preventing hospitalisations in Tasmania 2020/21 Budget Priorities Statement proposed a workable solution to some of the pressure currently felt in our hospital system through the improvement of primary health care availability to Tasmanians living on low incomes.
The 2019 Tasmania Report, published in partnership between TasCOSS and the TCCI, highlighted the robustness and accelerating growth of the state’s community services industry and the increasing need for health and allied health support services for our aging population.
The end of the cruel and illegal Robodebt recovery program that the Federal Government had used to victimise Newstart recipients since late 2015. TasCOSS’s four year campaign against Robodebt was a key contributor to this advocacy work, raising awareness of the shameful program at all levels of government. TasCOSS’s submission to the 2019 Federal Government Senate Inquiry into Newstart and Related Payments included stories of the lived experiences of Tasmanians struggling to make ends meet.
The Federal Government’s decision to waive Tasmanian housing debt repayments: the successful culmination of 14 years of advocacy by a broad range of stakeholders including media outlets, consecutive state governments and representatives of peak bodies and organisations across and beyond the community service industry.