Latest News & Advocacy

The Tasmanian Government’s response to the Commission of Inquiry promised urgent and evidence-based action to protect children, including the closure of Ashley Youth Detention Centre due to serious and ongoing safety risks at the facility, but a current spike in child detainees raises serious concerns that demand immediate action.

On Tuesday 14 May 2024, the Treasurer, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, handed down the latest Federal Budget. Read TasCOSS’s reaction and responses from across the community services industry.

There were many welcome announcements in this Federal Budget, however TasCOSS believes the Government got its priorities wrong, particularly choosing not to increase JobSeeker, and providing universal rather than targeted cost of living relief.

The Tasmania’s State of Housing Dashboard can be accessed at tascoss.org.au/state-of-housing.

TasCOSS was pleased to join with members and supporters of the community services industry in Burnie last week to pay tribute to the many invaluable contributions of TasCOSS’s outgoing Board President, Alex McKenzie, who has been in the role since 2019.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission has completed the count and declared the elected candidates (35 members) following the 2024 Tasmanian State Election.

The provisional election result, which indicates a shift away from the major parties and a expanded crossbench, is indicative of a failure of the major parties to adequately address the real issues that matter to Tasmanians, those being cost of living, health and housing.

With polling day this Saturday, I’d firstly like to acknowledge the powerful advocacy from right across the community services industry in calling for better outcomes for the many, diverse organisations and service types which make up our industry, and the thousands of Tasmanians who rely on our services.