Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that the Government's proposed changes to Governance Standard 3 in the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Regulation 2013 have been labelled as unnecessary, counterproductive and counter to the objects of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act;

(b) recognises that the proposed changes will have a chilling effect on lawful policy advocacy by charities, bury charities in red tape and stop charities from working to improve the lives of all Australians;

(c) acknowledges that adding summary offences as a prohibited conduct for charities is an overreach inconsistent with the rule of law;

(d) condemns the Government for targeting charities and not-for-profit organisations that do vital work advocating for the most vulnerable in our community; and

(e) calls on the Federal Government to abandon its proposed changes to Governance Standard 3 and repeal this standard in line with recommendations of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission legislation review 2018 expert panel.