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| Charities fight Coalition's attempt to limit advocacy | Charities fight Coalition's attempt to limit advocacy |
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| Exclusive: Charities band together to fight Coalition’s plan to ban or limit the use of donations from overseas for advocacy in Australia | |
| Michael Slezak | |
| Tue 31 Oct 2017 23.45 GMT | |
| Last modified on Wed 1 Nov 2017 06.14 GMT | |
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| Australian development and aid charities have joined forces to fight government moves expected to limit their ability to advocate for policy changes, passing a strongly worded motion at an annual conference to kick off a concerted campaign by the sector. | Australian development and aid charities have joined forces to fight government moves expected to limit their ability to advocate for policy changes, passing a strongly worded motion at an annual conference to kick off a concerted campaign by the sector. |
| The Coalition will introduce legislation to parliament in the coming weeks that will ban or limit the use of donations from overseas for advocacy in Australia. | The Coalition will introduce legislation to parliament in the coming weeks that will ban or limit the use of donations from overseas for advocacy in Australia. |
| The move follows a parliamentary report into the 2016 federal election, which called for a ban on foreign donations not just to political parties and “associated entities” but also to “third parties”, which could include any organisation or charity that advocates changes to policy in Australia. | The move follows a parliamentary report into the 2016 federal election, which called for a ban on foreign donations not just to political parties and “associated entities” but also to “third parties”, which could include any organisation or charity that advocates changes to policy in Australia. |
| It also comes during an ongoing Treasury inquiry, seeking to limit how much advocacy environmental groups and other charities can engage in. Treasury has suggested environmental groups should be forced to spend up to half their money on “remediation” rather than campaigning. | It also comes during an ongoing Treasury inquiry, seeking to limit how much advocacy environmental groups and other charities can engage in. Treasury has suggested environmental groups should be forced to spend up to half their money on “remediation” rather than campaigning. |
| At the annual general meeting of the Australian Council for International Development (Acfid) – the peak body of Australia’s international development and aid charities – a motion was unanimously passed on Wednesday that called on the government to drop any plans to limit how much charities can engage in advocacy, or how much they can receive from overseas philanthropists. | At the annual general meeting of the Australian Council for International Development (Acfid) – the peak body of Australia’s international development and aid charities – a motion was unanimously passed on Wednesday that called on the government to drop any plans to limit how much charities can engage in advocacy, or how much they can receive from overseas philanthropists. |
| The motion was moved by the chief executive of WWF Australia, Dermot O’Gorman, and seconded by the chief executive of Oxfam Australia, Helen Szoke. It was passed unanimously by the membership, which includes organisations such as medical colleges, the Salvation Army, Save the Children, Australian Red Cross and World Vision. | The motion was moved by the chief executive of WWF Australia, Dermot O’Gorman, and seconded by the chief executive of Oxfam Australia, Helen Szoke. It was passed unanimously by the membership, which includes organisations such as medical colleges, the Salvation Army, Save the Children, Australian Red Cross and World Vision. |
| The motion called on the government to “use its position on the United Nations Human Rights Council to be a champion for the role of civil society and stand as a bulwark against further erosions of civic space in countries around the world”. | The motion called on the government to “use its position on the United Nations Human Rights Council to be a champion for the role of civil society and stand as a bulwark against further erosions of civic space in countries around the world”. |
| “This comes at a time, when around the world there are increasing threats to freedom of expression for civil society,” O’Gorman told the Guardian. “Over the last few months we’ve been deeply concerned. We’ve seen specific vested interests – peak bodies like the Minerals Council of Australia – to push these changes to constrain or muzzle civil society for purely commercial gain.” | “This comes at a time, when around the world there are increasing threats to freedom of expression for civil society,” O’Gorman told the Guardian. “Over the last few months we’ve been deeply concerned. We’ve seen specific vested interests – peak bodies like the Minerals Council of Australia – to push these changes to constrain or muzzle civil society for purely commercial gain.” |
| The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, says the Greens will use their numbers in the Senate to try to exempt charities from any ban on foreign donations. He will tell the Acfid conference on Wednesday evening that the Coalition is trying to muzzle civil society groups. | The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, says the Greens will use their numbers in the Senate to try to exempt charities from any ban on foreign donations. He will tell the Acfid conference on Wednesday evening that the Coalition is trying to muzzle civil society groups. |
| “It could not be clearer: the Turnbull government is trying to silence you,” Di Natale says, in speaking notes seen by Guardian Australia. “It is an indictment on a government that won’t tolerate criticism. It wants to cut off funding to create an environment where civil society cannot speak out against government policy.” | “It could not be clearer: the Turnbull government is trying to silence you,” Di Natale says, in speaking notes seen by Guardian Australia. “It is an indictment on a government that won’t tolerate criticism. It wants to cut off funding to create an environment where civil society cannot speak out against government policy.” |
| The MCA itself campaigns for policy changes and has boasted about thwarting government plans to tax the mining industry. It has been a major driving force behind the push to muzzle environmental charities. It is also funded by companies that are mostly overseas owned but it is understood the MCA would not be impacted by the proposed legislation. | The MCA itself campaigns for policy changes and has boasted about thwarting government plans to tax the mining industry. It has been a major driving force behind the push to muzzle environmental charities. It is also funded by companies that are mostly overseas owned but it is understood the MCA would not be impacted by the proposed legislation. |
| The special minister of state, Scott Ryan, said the government believed “it is important that only Australians and Australian entities directly participate in our elections”. | The special minister of state, Scott Ryan, said the government believed “it is important that only Australians and Australian entities directly participate in our elections”. |
| “I have publicly stated on a number of occasions that I will introduce legislation to ban foreign donations before the end of the year,” Ryan said. “I have made clear that a ban on foreign political donations will apply equally to all political and campaign expenditure. The ban will not create loopholes for foreign money.” | “I have publicly stated on a number of occasions that I will introduce legislation to ban foreign donations before the end of the year,” Ryan said. “I have made clear that a ban on foreign political donations will apply equally to all political and campaign expenditure. The ban will not create loopholes for foreign money.” |
| But people in the charity sector who have been consulted by Ryan’s office believe the changes will allow foreign-owned business to pay for advocacy through their industry peak bodies, such as the MCA. | But people in the charity sector who have been consulted by Ryan’s office believe the changes will allow foreign-owned business to pay for advocacy through their industry peak bodies, such as the MCA. |
| Marc Purcell, the chief executive of Acfid, said: “Increasingly, fear and division are being used around the world as a precursor for draconian laws and regulations which are crippling democratic freedoms and stifling citizen-led groups. | Marc Purcell, the chief executive of Acfid, said: “Increasingly, fear and division are being used around the world as a precursor for draconian laws and regulations which are crippling democratic freedoms and stifling citizen-led groups. |
| “Faced with this disturbing global trend, it has never been more important for the Australian government to lead by example when it comes to safeguarding and promoting the role of civil society.” | “Faced with this disturbing global trend, it has never been more important for the Australian government to lead by example when it comes to safeguarding and promoting the role of civil society.” |
| Di Natale agrees, saying: “[The government] wants to make sure that environment organisations can’t campaign against massive, dirty fossil fuel projects like Adani’s Carmichael coalmine; or call out the government’s plan to hand out $1bn of taxpayer funds to support it.” | Di Natale agrees, saying: “[The government] wants to make sure that environment organisations can’t campaign against massive, dirty fossil fuel projects like Adani’s Carmichael coalmine; or call out the government’s plan to hand out $1bn of taxpayer funds to support it.” |
| The CEO of Philanthropy Australia, Sarah Davies, said that it was important that Australian charities be allowed to receive support from overseas philanthropic foundations. | The CEO of Philanthropy Australia, Sarah Davies, said that it was important that Australian charities be allowed to receive support from overseas philanthropic foundations. |
| “At the same time, many social and environmental challenges are global in nature, and therefore philanthropic foundations need to adopt approaches which cross international boundaries in order to respond to these challenges,” she said. | “At the same time, many social and environmental challenges are global in nature, and therefore philanthropic foundations need to adopt approaches which cross international boundaries in order to respond to these challenges,” she said. |
| “This may include funding issue-based advocacy activities by charities in Australia, because the root causes of our most complex social and environmental challenges can often only be addressed by influencing and changing government policy.” | “This may include funding issue-based advocacy activities by charities in Australia, because the root causes of our most complex social and environmental challenges can often only be addressed by influencing and changing government policy.” |
| Before Australia was elected to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, gave a scathing account of Australia’s treatment of civil society advocates. | Before Australia was elected to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, gave a scathing account of Australia’s treatment of civil society advocates. |
| After his visit to Australia, Forst said he was “astonished to observe mounting evidence of a range of accumulative measures that have levied enormous pressure on Australian civil society”. | After his visit to Australia, Forst said he was “astonished to observe mounting evidence of a range of accumulative measures that have levied enormous pressure on Australian civil society”. |
| “The government has increasingly stressed a distinction between ‘front line services’ and ‘advocacy’ work of peak bodies, with the latter function not meriting official funds,” Forst said. | “The government has increasingly stressed a distinction between ‘front line services’ and ‘advocacy’ work of peak bodies, with the latter function not meriting official funds,” Forst said. |
| “To me, such a distinction is rather paradoxical because it is impossible for those organisations to provide direct services to vulnerable populations, without advocating for their rights in that process.” | “To me, such a distinction is rather paradoxical because it is impossible for those organisations to provide direct services to vulnerable populations, without advocating for their rights in that process.” |
| Acfid has previously called for registered charities to be exempt from any legislation that bans receiving of international philanthropy. Third parties are already banned from carrying out “partisan” advocacy and are heavily regulated. | Acfid has previously called for registered charities to be exempt from any legislation that bans receiving of international philanthropy. Third parties are already banned from carrying out “partisan” advocacy and are heavily regulated. |
| “There is a category difference between political parties and charities,” Acfid said in a position statement from August this year. “Charities have completely different access to and influence over the political process compared to political parties. Given the very different legal circumstances within which charities operate, a new set of regulations for political parties should not be applied to charities.” | “There is a category difference between political parties and charities,” Acfid said in a position statement from August this year. “Charities have completely different access to and influence over the political process compared to political parties. Given the very different legal circumstances within which charities operate, a new set of regulations for political parties should not be applied to charities.” |
| Andrew Leigh, the Labor spokesman for charities and not-for-profits said: “The Coalition must cease its war on charities and start backing the people trying to make the world a better place. | Andrew Leigh, the Labor spokesman for charities and not-for-profits said: “The Coalition must cease its war on charities and start backing the people trying to make the world a better place. |
| “A government that truly cared about charities would be getting on with fixing fundraising, removing duplicate reporting requirements, and strengthening the charities commission. | “A government that truly cared about charities would be getting on with fixing fundraising, removing duplicate reporting requirements, and strengthening the charities commission. |
| “Instead, Malcolm Turnbull’s team is trying to put up road blocks.” | “Instead, Malcolm Turnbull’s team is trying to put up road blocks.” |
| Labor said in March that it could not support the government’s proposal to extend fundraising and financial disclosure obligations imposed by the Electoral Act to capture all third parties that are in any way involved in public campaigning. | Labor said in March that it could not support the government’s proposal to extend fundraising and financial disclosure obligations imposed by the Electoral Act to capture all third parties that are in any way involved in public campaigning. |
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