I thank the member for Griffith for this motion. Our charity sector is foundational to a kind and generous community. It's where people can turn in times of need, it's where neighbours meet and become friends, and it's where Australians can find meaning in their own lives and do good for others. I've spent five years working in the non-profit sector and many more years sitting on various not-for-profit boards. Working at Anglicare WA, I saw the incredible work being done to help people thrive in WA, and I was proud to be part of an organisation that delivered a range of services funded by government, and also through donations, that treated people with dignity and compassion, and changed lives.

People who give their lives to helping others, either working for not-for-profits or volunteering, taught me so much, and the purpose we shared provided so much meaning every day. Now, as the representative of the kind and generous electorate of Curtin, I have a different perspective on that. Curtin has one of the highest volunteering rates in the country. I'm so proud of all the people in Curtin who I see volunteering. They are contributing to our civic life, whether it's working for a social or environmental cause or for clubs, cooking the sausage sizzles, pulling weeds or sitting on boards.

I see the incredible work being done by people in so many impactful community organisations, like the people at Dress for Success WA in West Perth, who support women to find meaningful employment by providing professional clothing, career development tools and a support network; the people at Deserving Better WA in Subiaco, who are supporting women experiencing violence and coercive control; and the people at Lifeline WA in Subiaco—where I once sat on the board and was chair—who provide support and compassion to Australians who are finding life unbearable. There are another 66,000 charities across Australia doing similarly important work: food distribution networks, helping people in need; neighbourhood groups, teaching English; and community legal centres, helping tenants with nowhere else to turn.

The incredible thing about these organisations is the extent to which they run on the goodwill in our community. Australian charities have nearly 3.9 million volunteers. That's more than two volunteers for every paid employee. Twenty-two thousand of these charities are run entirely by volunteers, with no paid staff at all. These organisations deserve all the support that we can give them. We should be encouraging volunteering, charitable donations and all forms of generosity because this is the sort of society we want to live in: one where people are kind and generous and where communities come together to solve problems rather than falling into despair or relying solely on the government.

I support the goal to double charitable giving by 2030, and the government has taken some steps towards that, as pointed out by the member for Griffith. But there is much more to do. Giving is not on a path to doubling in this timeframe. The Productivity Commission's 2024 review Future foundations for giving had 19 recommendations for strengthening the charity sector and supporting charitable donations. The 2024 Not-for-profit sector development blueprint had 18 recommended initiatives, and many remain unactioned. I want to highlight three, which were the subject of an open letter from the Stronger Charities Alliance to the Prime Minister last year, with 103 signatories. The asks remain important in protecting and strengthening the charity sector: firstly, recognising that advocacy benefits the public; secondly, prohibiting government officers from restricting the voices of charities when receiving funding, even informally; and thirdly, requiring the merit based and transparent appointment of the Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. None of these cost money. All of them protect the right of charities to speak for the people they serve and support.

I want to conclude with a message to all Australians. This motion is about policy, but policy only helps if people take part. The charities sector depends on people who give their time and their money, and we can all ask what we ourselves are doing. Volunteer for a good cause, if you have time. Give to a good to a good cause, if you have money—and give regularly. Join the board of the club your kids play for. Support your local community foundation. This is what it takes to be a kind, generous country that looks after its own.