Category Archive

The announcement of an 11.88% increase to electricity prices next month is a further blow to Tasmanian electricity customers, with household budgets already under pressure from rising prices and falling real wages.

TasCOSS welcomes the Fair Work Commission’s $40 (5.2%) increase to national minimum wage and 4.6% increase to modern award minimum wages.

Today’s Legislative Council Estimates Committee hearing has revealed the Tasmanian Government’s decision to maintain the $40 aurora+ product fee will impose higher electricity charges on 130,000 Tasmanian households and small businesses.

For a government that is committed to leading with heart, and for all the talk on addressing cost of living pressures, there was nothing new in the budget which will have an impact on making the basics more affordable for Tasmanians on low incomes.

Prominent Tasmanian advocacy groups have joined forces with the Australian Dental Association to call on the next federal government to increase long-term funding for the oral health system, with many Tasmanians waiting years or going without dental care due to high costs and limited accessibility. 

Ahead of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia tomorrow (17 May 2022), the Tasmanian community services industry is sending a strong message of support and voicing its pride in the diversity of its employees and service users.

Anglicare’s 2022 Rental Affordability Snapshot for Tasmania has highlighted the depth of the rental crisis the state is facing, releasing figures showing Tasmanians on low incomes have little hope of securing a private rental.

Advocacy groups say more than $20 million in electricity charges could be saved, providing relief for Tasmanians struggling to pay high energy bills in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

TasCOSS today released its 2022 Federal Election Tasmania Package (PDF, 3.28MB), which focusses on key policies and programs to combat rising cost of living pressures and provide much needed relief to Tasmanian families.

This Federal Budget appears focused on temporary measures that put money into voters’ pockets between now and the election, rather than addressing the structural issues that create cost of living pressures on households.