Religious lobbyists are demanding that the Albanese government continue to recognise faith-based charities as “special” and give them “due respect” among all charities in Australia’s charities sector.
In an interview on Christian radio, prominent lobbyist Murray Norman has revealed that faith-based groups have been engaging with the government in an effort to “push back” against the Productivity Commission’s recommendations for the removal of special exemptions provided to Basic Religious Charities (BRCs).
After praising the charities minister, Dr Andrew Leigh, for rejecting the Commission’s recommendations to remove Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status for school building funds – benefiting largely wealthy private faith schools – and religious activities in public schools, Mr Norman said there were “other things” faith groups were talking to the government about.
“Especially how they classify faith groups and how they register faith groups. So we’re still working with the minister,” said Mr Norman (pictured), the chief executive of FaithNSW and Better Balance Futures, which lobbies for the Special Religious Education (SRE) program.
“There are actually decisions that the Productivity Commission has made that we’re very, very keen to engage with government and push back.
“We want the faith charities to be recognised as special and given due respect within the whole myriad of different charities that we have within our community.”
In the recently released final report for its philanthropy inquiry, the Commissionin said there was no justification for having BRCs and the associated exemptions to the financial reporting and governance standards that apply to all over charities, including some religious ones without BCR status. It also argued that the reform would “enhance regulatory consistency and public transparency”.
It appears that Dr Leigh is yet to announce whether the government will support the recommendation on BRCs.
Mr Norman told the Twenty20 radio program that it had been a “massive deal” for Dr Leigh to reject the Productivity Commission’s recommendations regarding tax deductibility for donations to school building funds and religious activities in public schools.
He said the result showed that the Albanese government valued the work of religious instructors in New South Wales’ SRE program and Queensland’s Religious Instruction program – programs that allow volunteer religious missionaries to take over normal learning time and segregate children along religious lines.
“Well, it’s saying that the government actually recognises you, that the government is keen to invest in you, and it’s providing an opportunity for people of faith…that it’s important to get into schools,” said Mr Norman.
“But I will say that it’s so important for Christians to actually stand up. We’ve got this opportunity. Get trained, be encouraged and go into schools, because we need people sharing about their faith and sharing about Jesus…”
It is believed that Dr Leigh met with the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) and religious charity leaders within a few weeks of receiving the final report from the Productivity Commission in May.
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ACL spokesperson Wendy Francis told an online event in May that Milton Dick, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, had invited Dr Leigh to give a presentation about proposed charities reforms for the ACL and religious charity leaders in Mr Dick’s own office.
In late July, the Rationalist Society of Australia wrote to Dr Leigh, urging him to support the Productivity Commission’s recommendation to remove Basic Religious Charities (BRCs) in order to restore public confidence in the nation’s charities system.
The Rationalist Society of Australia is actively campaigning for reform of the charities sector. Follow our campaign updates here.
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Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.