Senate disallows heavy-handed anti-charity regulations

The CBAA welcomes news that changes to governance standard three of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Regulation 2013 have been disallowed by a vote in the Senate today. The changes would have placed charities at risk of being de-registered by the Charities Commissioner, even if they have not broken any laws.

The CBAA is a member of the Hands Off Our Charities (HOOC) alliance of more than 100 of the nation’s most respected charities. HOOC has been resisting the Government’s attempt to grant the Federal Charities Commissioner the power to investigate and deregister charities on a whim.

Today, a crossbench disallowance motion put forward by South Australian Senator Rex Patrick was successful in the Senate, effectively stopping the Government’s proposal in its tracks.

An independent report commissioned by HOOC found that the new burdensome regulation would have cost the sector up to $150 million in additional administration costs to charities and not-for-profits in the first year alone.

HOOC Spokesperson Ray Yoshida says that charities across the country will breathe a sigh of relief today.

“Despite the Government’s efforts to silence those who speak up, the crossbench parties and the Federal Opposition saw major warning signs in Minister Sukkar’s proposals and stood shoulder-to-shoulder to stop it.” Mr Yoshida said.

“This incredible result means that more than $150 million that would have been spent on administration costs can now be diverted back into essential services such as emergency food relief, family violence and mental health support,” Mr Yoshida said.