Dr Mike Freelander, the Labor MP in Macarthur, has accused the Turnbull Government of using donations reform to try to gag charities.
“The government believes charities should be seen but not heard,’’ he said today.
“They can run a soup kitchen but not talk about the causes of poverty.
“They can plant trees but shouldn’t talk about deforestation.
“They can support Indigenous communities but mustn’t talk about Indigenous disadvantage,’’ Dr Freelander said.
Labor supports a ban on foreign donations, he says, “but we do not want to see our charities and not-for-profits hurt by a government intent on stifling debate.
“It is clear that many charitable and not-for-profit organisations in Macarthur will be prevented from advocating for a more fair and just Australia if this legislation goes through in its current form.
“That would be bad for democracy.
“As your local member, I will not let the government silence organisations in Macarthur seeking to make legitimate contributions to our nation’s political debate.
“I am proud of Labor’s history of support for the community and not-for-profit sectors.’’
Dr Freelander said that since the last election in Julky 2016, Labor has engaged with more than 1,000 charities across the country to learn how best to help them in their work to strengthen Australian communities, including the work they do here in Macarthur.
“Many organisations have told us they are finding it harder and harder to be heard by the federal government,’’ he said today.
The government has placed gag clauses on charities which receive social services grants, and pushed plans to restrict the advocacy work of environmental charities, says Dr Freelander.
“Labor is continuing our long-standing engagement with representatives of charities and not-for-profits sector and listening to their concerns about the possible impact of the government’s draft laws on their work,’’ he said.
“We are committed to sensible reform on foreign donations and will work to achieve this goal without stifling the important independent voices of charities and their contributions to Australian civil society.’’
It will be interesting to see if the Liberals will open the books of the Free Enterprise Foundation that they launder Thierry developer donations through. All this Coalition Government wants to pre ent anyone speaking up on behalf of the disadvantaged then they will ignore the suffering of these people as they will be voiceless and then have their funds cut. Shame
Elections should be publically funded and donations should be limited to individuals only with a cap of around $1,000.