Energy justice advocates call on government to wipe growing energy debt
New AER data shows hundreds of thousands are struggling with rising energy debts as Australians demand more government intervention to lower bills.
Shame Labor shame: New powers to cancel Centrelink payments before conviction pass the senate
Welfare recipients have a right to be treated equally under the law, and should not be subject to punishment before having access to legal advice for any reason, ever.
Minister Plibersek must apologise for Sky News comments about advocacy groups
Yesterday the social services minister took to Sky News to make abhorrent remarks about civil society organisations representing single mothers, First Nations legal advocates and peak legal and social services bodies.
Growing calls for Labor to abandon new powers to stop Centrelink payments for people accused of a serious offence
Civil society organisations representing welfare recipients, First Nations people, survivors of family violence, disabled people and legal experts are calling on the government to scrap a proposed law due to be considered in the senate today that will involve police and ministers in individual social security decisions.
Civil society groups call on government to abandon police power to stop Centrelink payments without proper judicial process
Yesterday afternoon the government shamefully snuck in an amendment granting police powers to stop Centrelink payments into a bill designed to make yet another unlawful Centrelink debt collection scandal go away.
Submission to the Committee inquiry social services amendment “Technical changes No. 2” Bill October 2025
This is the Antipoverty Centre Submission into the Social Services "Technical Changes No. 2" Bill 2025. The Bill sought to give Services Australia more debt recovery power despite the harm they have already caused welfare recipients over the last 5-10 years due to their debt recovery activities.
Public notice from our oversight committee
Update on steps taken after we were made aware of concerns raised about our work.
Centrelink debt waivers welcome but insufficient
Today the government announced significant changes to Centrelink debt policies.
Second damning report exposes government negligence on payment suspensions
It is clear this report is nothing more than an attempt to cover the department’s ass so it can prop up the system of punishment it outsources to unaccountable welfare cops who profit from poverty.
Damning Ombudsman report shows government must stop Centrelink payment suspensions
Welfare recipients and community sector organisations are calling for an urgent intervention by government to stop Centrelink payment suspensions, which cause severe financial hardship and turmoil in the lives of poor people.