SYDNEY, March 28, 2018 – Laws to protect politicians from criticism and hinder life-saving medical research, charity and environmental protection work are undemocratic, un-Australian, and must be abandoned, according to 165 non-profits around the country.This morning the Hands Off Our Charities alliance, made up of 28 organisations including Greenpeace Australia Pacific, will be presenting a open letter calling for the abandonment of laws that would silence charities at a democracy sausage sizzle at Parliament House followed by a press conference. The letter has been signed by more than 165 non-profits from aid organisations and church groups to academic and media associations.
“This legislation is nothing more than politicians’ attempts to silence their critics with grave consequences for civil society,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Program Director Dom Rowe said.
“The proposed laws will be such a burden that they will stop people from taking peaceful action for causes they care deeply about. Politicians need to explain why choking civil society with red tape is in Australia’s best interest.”
The bills will impact on a broad array of activities undertaken by business, academics, journalists, churches, shelters, researchers, and advocacy groups like Greenpeace.
The bills would require people who make monthly donations of $20 or $30 to sign statutory declarations, certified by a Justice of the Peace, stating they are Australian. They would also prohibit overseas support for advocacy, require any relationship between Australians and people overseas to be registered, generate costly compliance burdens and create severe penalties for whistleblowing and forms of peaceful protest.
“The proposed legislation threatens the intellectual freedom which is absolutely critical to a progressive and democratic society,” Jeannie Rea, National President, National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said.
“It would undermine academic freedom at the very time that people, businesses and Governments are turning to university educators and researchers to understand the world. Fearless communication backed by evidence-based analysis is necessary to provide remedies to the wicked problems we face today. “
David Crosbie of the Community Council for Australia said “Essential funds for life-saving medical research, to alleviate poverty, to support Indigenous self-determination, and to protect our forests, rivers and wildlife are now at risk.”
“Restricting advocacy by charities sends a troubling message – our government does not want charities to raise the concerns of the communities and causes they represent. This crackdown on their voices would have a chilling effect on our democracy,” Mr Crosbie said.
For interviews:
Martin Zavan, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications Campaigner
0424 295 422 / [email protected]
