Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

Well, the government won't be supporting these amendments because the effect of this is to remove Equality Australia from the list of deductible gift recipients. There are a number of these organisations that have all gone through the same process in order to get DGR status. Equality Australia is a national organisation dedicated to equality for LGBTIQ+ people. They combine legal, policy and communications expertise with thousands of supporters to ensure LGBTIQ+ people are treated with dignity and respect. Equality Australia exists to improve the wellbeing and circumstances of LGBTQI+ people in Australia and their families by: relieving distress and disadvantage to LGBTQI+ people; reducing the prevalence and relieving the effects of depression, suicide, anxiety, bullying and homelessness they experience; reducing the stigma and discrimination they experience; advancing and promoting equality and inclusion; and enhancing their actual and sense of safety, security and acceptance.

The government greatly appreciates the important contribution made to Australian communities and not-for-profit organisations. We understand that advocacy is an important way that charities work to change Australia for the better, and I think the list of DGR recipients that I read out in my second reading speech actually reminds us what an amazing country we live in with a full range of different organisations that have been listed there across education, advocacy, community work, people of different religious faiths, health spaces, social enterprises and in early childhood. I think it's actually a sign of the strength of our country that we would have organisations that should be specifically listed in this bill as deductible gift recipients or getting that status to do the important work that they do across the Australian community.