Close Search
 
MEDIA, JOBS & RESOURCES for the COMMON GOOD
News  |  Government

NFP Advocacy Under Threat


21 October 2014 at 11:09 am
Xavier Smerdon
Steps to restrict the policy and advocacy work of community legal centres and attacks on the tax status of environmental groups could threaten the independence and fearlessness of community organisations, sector experts warn.

Xavier Smerdon | 21 October 2014 at 11:09 am


0 Comments


 Print
NFP Advocacy Under Threat
21 October 2014 at 11:09 am

Steps to restrict the policy and advocacy work of community legal centres and attacks on the tax status of environmental groups could threaten the independence and fearlessness of community organisations, sector experts warn.

Executive Officer of the Federation of Community Legal Centres, Liana Buchanan said contracts for Community Legal Centres or CLCs have have changed from the 1st of July  around the use of core finances and clauses relating to policy and advocacy work have been removed.

“CLCs and other community organisations help hundreds of thousands of people every day. Helping these people is important work, but we are only doing part of  our job if we don’t also tell Government what is affecting the communities we work with, and what changes are needed to make their lives better," Buchanan said.

“This critical work is currently under threat."

As well in June this year at the Liberal Federal Council, a motion was put forward to strip environmental groups of tax deductibility status.

“The motion stated that eco charities should be treated as corporations and should not be eligible for deductible gift recipient  status when advocating political issues,” Dr John Spierings, Executive Officer of the Reichstein Foundation said.

“Australia needs a strong and fearless community sector.

“It is vital that the sector has the freedom to advocate for vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians, to assess and critique policy and to propose new solutions for enduring economic and social problems.

“Grantmakers need independent, non-partisan partners if we are to innovate, demonstrate and be effective in promoting social change.

Swinburne Philanthropy Alumni and the Reichstein Foundation are holding a forum on the future independence of the environmental and community sectors and the implications for philanthropy, on Monday 27 October  in Melbourne.

Dr Spierings will facilitate the Forum. Speakers will include Amanda Martin from the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network, Liana  Buchanan from the Federation of Community Legal Centres and Julie Edwards from Jesuit Social Services.


Xavier Smerdon  |  Journalist  |  @XavierSmerdon

Xavier Smerdon is a journalist specialising in the Not for Profit sector. He writes breaking and investigative news articles.


Get more stories like this

FREE SOCIAL
SECTOR NEWS


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

What next on government engagement?

Neil Pharaoh

Monday, 27th March 2023 at 12:12 pm

Embedding gender equity in government engagement

Ellen McLoughlin

Wednesday, 8th March 2023 at 10:19 pm

Businesses on notice as ACCC sweeps covers off greenwashing

Danielle Kutchel

Friday, 3rd March 2023 at 3:16 pm

ASIC launches first greenwashing court action

Isabelle Oderberg

Tuesday, 28th February 2023 at 8:28 am

pba inverse logo
Subscribe Twitter Facebook
×