annual report 08-09 - Public Interest Advocacy Centre

PUBLICATIONS
46
NEWSLETTERS
PIAC Bulletin, No 28, November 2008
PIAC Bulletin, No 29, May 2009
Street Rights NSW # 11 (August 2008)
Newsletter of the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service.
Street Rights NSW # 12 (November 2008)
Newsletter of the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service.
Talkin’ Justice # 4 (December 2008)
Newsletter of the Indigenous Justice Program
Well Connected # 33 (December 2008)
Newsletter of the Energy + Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program
Street Rights NSW # 13 (February 2009)
Newsletter of the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service.
Housing the homeless a priority? HPLS submission to the
Joint Guarantee of Service Inquiry (14 July 2008)
In response to an invitation to comment to the Joint Guarantee of
Service (JGOS) inquiry, the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service provided
detail on the difficulties homeless people experience with the NSW
Department of Housing. HPLS highlighted the priority housing
system as an area requiring reform.
Towards humanity and decency. Submission to Joint Standing
Committee on Migration: Inquiry into Immigration in Australia
(29 July 2008)
PIAC addressed the terms of reference relating to criteria for
detention and length of time in detention; options to expand the
transparency and visibility of immigration detention centres and
options for the provision of detention services and detention health
services across the range of detention facilities.
Affordable renewables: Submission to the Design Options for
the Expanded National Renewable Energy Target Scheme
(30 July 2008)
The Australian Government committed to an expansion of the
national mandatory Renewable Energy Target (RET) so that a
minimum of 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity is generated from
renewable sources by 2020. PIAC supported the expansion of the
RET but advocated that the scheme must minimise the cost to
consumers and include measures to protect low-income households
from higher electricity prices.
Submission on NSW Distribution Network Service Providers
2009-2014 Regulator Proposals (6 August 2008)
PIAC in its submission to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) on
the NSW Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) 2009-2014
Regulatory proposals noted that any increases in charges would
lead to equity concerns for low-income and vulnerable households.
As the DNSPs Regulatory Proposals each sought significant rises in
regulated charges, PIAC asked the AER to ensure that certain areas of
increased proposed where not above the level required.
Citizenship and a Bill or Charter of Rights (22 August 2008)
In a paper to a Sydney Democracy Forum seminar, Robin Banks spoke
of the need for formal human rights protection.
The paper also highlighted the role of human rights as an effective
and clear values framework that can guide the conduct not only of
governments but of all within a community or society.
Response to Australian Commission on Safety and Quality
in Health Care’s Consultation on Consumer Engagement
Strategies (22 August 2008)
PIAC submitted that strategies should be adopted to enhance
consumer participation and engagement through all stages of a
consumer’s health care. Strategies should be adopted to promote
participation and engagement by consumers from disadvantaged
PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY CENTRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009