ACTCOSS Annual Report 2007-08 - ACT Council of Social Service

Transport and UtilitiesAcross 2007-08 ACTCOSS continued to advocate for the needs ofdisadvantaged Canberrans to be considered in the ACT’s responseto climate change. Research has shown that climate change islikely to disproportionately affect disadvantaged households andpeople living on low incomes.As a result ACTCOSS has completed submissions to Governmenton a range of issues, including:•••Social Impacts of Water Restrictions;Concessions Review; andA Feed in Tariff for the ACT.A particular concern has been the rising costs of fuel and utilities,including electricity and water, and its disproportionate effecton disadvantaged and low-income households. During 2007-08 ACTCOSS commissioned research from NATSEM, examiningthe expenditure patterns of low-income households in the ACT,including on transport and utilities, to ensure there is reliable andaccessible data available on the changes in expenditure patternsin recent times.2008 saw the implementation of the ACTION buses Network 08changes. Whilst ACTCOSS has supported increases in bus servicesand the number of accessible buses travelling the routes, wehave continued to voice concerns that some areas are not equallyserviced by public transport, particularly those areas on the cityfringes where lower income households are more concentrated.ACTCOSS also continues to participate in the Planning andDevelopment Forum, ESCC Stakeholder Meeting, and attendevents such as the launch of the Climate Change Strategy and theconsultations surrounding the Social Impacts of Climate Changereport (of the ACT Community Inclusion Board).