Labor announces support for charities

Thu, 9 May 2019

This article was sourced from the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, found here.

CBAA News Story

The ALP has stated they will formally recognise the benefits of advocacy by charities and not-for-profits.

Labor Shadow Ministers Dr Andrew Leigh (Shadow Minister for Charities and Not-for-Profits) and Mark Dreyfus (Shadow Attorney General) have released a comprehensive set of charity policy announcements which include:

  • Establish a Not-for-Profit Sector Expert Reference Panel - the panel will work with Treasury, charities and not-for-profits, business, philanthropy, volunteering and other key stakeholders to produce a future Sector Development Plan for the charities and not-for-profit sector.
  • Establish a ‘Building Community - Building Capacity’ Working Group - this group will implement recommendations from the Not-for-Profit Sector Expert Reference Panel and work with charities to ensure they can be focal points for community building and collective purpose.
  • Fix Fundraising - the Charity Minister will start the process of harmonising Australia’s fundraising laws with States, Territories, Treasury and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
  • Freedom to Advocate - Labor will introduce a range of new measures including amendments to Charities Act 2013 to ensure advocacy is seen as a legitimate and appropriate charitable activity.
  • Reinstate the Annual Charities Report and increase the power of the ACNC Advisory Board
  • Charity Passport - Labor’s Charities Minister will work with relevant Commonwealth departments and agencies to ensure the charity passport (the one stop shop) scheme works.

Speaking in Melbourne earlier today, David Crosbie CEO of the charity peak body the Community Council for Australia (CCA) said “It is great to see a potential incoming government announcing policies that will improve the capacity of charities to serve their communities.”

“We’re used to politicians talking about what business needs, but charities are rarely given a second thought, despite all the reform needed to ensure we have a strong charities sector moving forward. Over 1.3 million people work in Australia’s charities sector. Charities turn over more than $140 billion, are the heartbeat of our communities, and just like business, they need increased certainty and support if they are to invest in their services and improve outcomes for the people they serve. CCA welcomes these announcements and looks forward to working with a dedicated Charities Minister should the ALP form government after the election.”

The CBAA joins other CCA members in supporting these policy announcements.

This election, the CBAA is also working to build greater support for the community radio sector and translate this support into better policy settings to allow the sector to thrive. Find out more about our 2019 Federal Election Campaign and how your station can get involved.