Josh Burns (Macnamara, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm very pleased to join the member for Fenner in his motion calling for more support for our not-for-profit and charity sector. In Australia we are so fortunate to have people who don't just think for themselves but act for others. Our not-for-profit and charity sector is a great source of pride. In many cases we wish we didn't need its work, but in so many ways I know that I, as a member of parliament, and many colleagues on all sides are inspired by the efforts of ordinary Australians going above and beyond, and a bit later I will share some of the experiences in my electorate.

I also want to note that before the last election I joined the member for Fenner just outside my electorate at the local organisation SANE—they do wonderful work supporting people, especially around mental health—for an announcement of all the different things we would be doing to support charities and not-for-profits. While we didn't get everything right at the last election, I think that policy was one thing that would have made a significant difference in the lives of people. It was a great day. Sadly, we didn't get to implement some of those things—alas!—but we continue working.

This sector is one that needs support, and never more than over the last few months in Australia. As the member for Fenner rightly pointed out, while demand has increased, support has decreased at a rapid rate. I think the best example I can think of locally is the outstanding Australian organisation OzHarvest. I was very pleased to have a conversation with its founder, Ronni Kahn, a few weeks ago, on one of the many webinar experiences that we all have been doing. She spoke about the need for food and the need for food for Australians, because many people are doing it tough and OzHarvest has never been needed more in Australia. Thankfully there had been support from some of the major supermarkets, but demand had never been higher. Unfortunately, people don't have as much to give right now, so every little bit that we can be doing in this place to support not-for-profits and charities to reduce their administrative burden and to reduce their own financial burden is absolutely crucial. It means more people get fed, it means more people get supported and it means more and more organisations like OzHarvest are able to do the things that they do best, which is support Australians.

There are other local organisations that I wanted to take note of. The first one is one that holds dear to my heart, which is the Father Bob Maguire Foundation, which is a foundation that literally looks after those people who don't have a voice and looks after the people who are forgotten. Bob is in his 80s at the moment, but he is still firing on all cylinders. He is still working tirelessly to support people in public housing in all different parts, vulnerable parts, of the community, and he does an outstanding job. We should be supporting organisations like Father Bob foundation to make sure that their administrative burden is reduced as much as possible.

I also want to note that the assistant minister for homelessness and housing came out and met with Father Bob before the coronavirus, and I was pleased to join him on that day. I would like the next visit to come with an announcement of support for the Father Bob foundation. I'd be, once again, pleased to stand with the assistant minister if he were to join me.

Of course there are so many other organisations that I could point to. Little Dreamers is one that blows my mind every time I speak to Maddy Buchner, who is the CEO. She is an absolute force and a leader to be reckoned with in the future. She is younger than me but she is far more impressive. She has created a whole organisation supporting carers of people—siblings who care for their sibling. It provides a whole range of support networks and support programs for people who are doing caring, unpaid caring and people who are often forgotten in this industry. She is just brilliant. I know that she is speaking to many people across all forms of government at the moment to try and secure her future. I wish her well and wish her our full support in the future of Little Dreamers.

This motion is a really important motion. It's a motion that says the government needs to act on the Senate committee's report and on their own review into the Charities Act. This is outdated legislation. For the party who likes to brag about reducing red tape, this is a great place to start. This is a great place to start, by supporting people who do incredible work supporting Australians. I wish there wasn't as much demand, but now is the time to be supporting our not-for-profit and charity sector.

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