TasCOSS welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s $33 million commitment towards energy bill relief, but is calling for the funds to be immediately released as new figures reveal the number of Tasmanians in energy debt has doubled in the past year.

Tasmania’s community services industry has today launched a new campaign for a fair and reasonable funding increase from the Tasmanian Government.

Read the reactions and responses from across the industry.

While this budget demonstrates a significant change in approach towards building a more inclusive society, there is very little by way of immediate relief which will help Tasmanians struggling with the ever-increasing costs of living.

TasCOSS congratulates the Tasmanian Government on its announcement to introduce mandatory pre-commitment for all electronic gaming machine (pokies) users in Tasmania.

TasCOSS and Families and Children Tasmania have joined calls by Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean, for a rapid response crisis team to immediately be established and sent into the Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC) to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people currently detained, as well as ensure the staff are supported to do their jobs.

TasCOSS has welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s $5 million cost of living package, which acknowledges the significant cost of living pressures Tasmanians are currently facing.

As Tasmania’s levels of housing stress continues to worsen and new data reveals the cost of rents have increased by 6.2% in the past year alone, TasCOSS is calling for a collaborative approach to tackle the current housing crisis.