Peaceful protest under threat

image of Peaceful protest under threat

The Morrison government is proposing changes to the Charity Act - dangerous laws that are designed to stifle dissent.

If these regulations are enacted it will significantly impact peaceful protest & place a huge admin burden on small charities whose resources are better off serving the community. We CAN stop this by coming together and raising our voices.

This is not just an issue for charities - it is an issue for all who support peaceful protest and believe dissent is vital to democracy. The results will be felt by all grassroots activists, ensuring many forms of legitimate dissent are further marginalised.

According ...

The Morrison government is proposing changes to the Charity Act - dangerous laws that are designed to stifle dissent.

If these regulations are enacted it will significantly impact peaceful protest & place a huge admin burden on small charities whose resources are better off serving the community. We CAN stop this by coming together and raising our voices.

This is not just an issue for charities - it is an issue for all who support peaceful protest and believe dissent is vital to democracy. The results will be felt by all grassroots activists, ensuring many forms of legitimate dissent are further marginalised.

According to the proposed legislation, major political movements from Black Lives Matter, School Strike, Women's Marches or Love Makes a Way refugee protests,could involve circumstances making charities eligible for de-registration if they simply supported/promoted them. This is a direct attack on democracy.

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Email a Liberal representative

Join the chorus of voices saying #HandsOffOurCharities

The government is flailing, and if enough of us stand up they might not want to pick a fight with a huge coalition of charity organisations and their grassroots supporters. Charities have cared for our communities through bushfires, and now Covid. We know they are valued, and we know this is an attack geared towards silencing dissent.

Please choose your local Liberal MP (or Senator) and add your own thoughts as to why you don't support these proposed changes. We need to send a strong message this week.

We have provided a full overview and further talking points on our website.

Find your local rep

Subject:

To The Honourable Member/Senator, ***** SWITCH AS NEEDED FOR MPS/SENATORS

I am writing to share my concerns with the proposed changes to the Charities Act. Charities have been important in standing up for people and our environment in this critical time - from bushfires, to Covid, to advocating for mental health services and relief from poverty.

I believe they are critical to a functioning democracy and would ask that you reconsider your support of these laws. The proposed amendments are an unnecessary over-reach, and will limit freedom of political communication, as well as place unnecessary burden that could be better spent serving constituents.

Contrary to your assessment in the explanatory memoranda, it will take much, much more internal time, as well as potential external legal advice, for many charities to work through this red tape. Your significant underestimation of 2 hours per charity will actually result in literally 100s of 1000s of hours work across the sector. Organisations will be obliged to complete, regardless of whether these amendments should be relevant to their work. For a significant group of household name charities, it will involve $1000s each and its a heavy price to pay when charities are carrying such a heavy work load with multiple crises and losing income under lockdowns.

As Tim Costello said "It is difficult to see this as anything other than a concerted effort by the government to stifle legitimate and lawful policy advocacy by charities."

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