The ALP announcement today that it will, if elected to form Government, restore funding to the national youth peak body is an important and welcome commitment to the role of civil society organisations as advocates in the policy development and reform process.
“ACOSS is thrilled that Labor has committed to funding a national youth peak to do the vital work of ensuring that the priorities of young people inform national debates about employment, affordable housing, education, income support and services”, said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.
“We know that public debate in Australia is heavily influenced by well-resourced interests who can drown out the voices of groups with few resources. The government has a unique role to play in addressing this democratic deficit, by ensuring that marginalised groups are resourced to participate in public debate.”
“Yet over the past five years we have seen major cuts to organisations that represent the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, young people, refugees and migrants, people experiencing homelessness and those struggling in the housing market.”
“In this Election, ACOSS is seeking a commitment from all major parties to ensuring that marginalised voices are heard in our public debate. This requires the removal of current contractual and funding restrictions on advocacy as well as a commitment to additional funding, of at least $5 million per annum, to resource peak bodies and advocacy organisations representing people affecting by poverty and inequality.”
For more detail on ACOSS Election priorities related to advocacy and community services, see:
https://www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ACOSS-Pre-election-priorities-community-services.pdf
“ACOSS is thrilled that Labor has committed to funding a national youth peak to do the vital work of ensuring that the priorities of young people inform national debates about employment, affordable housing, education, income support and services”, said ACOSS CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie.
“We know that public debate in Australia is heavily influenced by well-resourced interests who can drown out the voices of groups with few resources. The government has a unique role to play in addressing this democratic deficit, by ensuring that marginalised groups are resourced to participate in public debate.”
“Yet over the past five years we have seen major cuts to organisations that represent the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, young people, refugees and migrants, people experiencing homelessness and those struggling in the housing market.”
“In this Election, ACOSS is seeking a commitment from all major parties to ensuring that marginalised voices are heard in our public debate. This requires the removal of current contractual and funding restrictions on advocacy as well as a commitment to additional funding, of at least $5 million per annum, to resource peak bodies and advocacy organisations representing people affecting by poverty and inequality.”
For more detail on ACOSS Election priorities related to advocacy and community services, see:
https://www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ACOSS-Pre-election-priorities-community-services.pdf
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