The Rationalist Society of Australia has urged independent members of parliament and minor parties to pursue reforms that stop charities from engaging in election activities that directly support candidates or parties.
In a letter today to independent MPs and minor parties elected to the House of Representatives, the RSA raised concerns about the widely reported activities of religious charities during the federal election campaign.
Executive Director Si Gladman pointed to the cases of Catholic education bodies – with charitable status for ‘advancing religion’ and ‘advancing education’ – sending communications to parents and carers in their school communities cautioning them against voting for Greens and independent candidates.
He also highlighted the controversy over the alleged involvement of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (formerly Exclusive Brethren) – a charity for ‘advancing religion’ – in staffing polling booths and making phone calls for Liberal Party candidates.
“We are deeply concerned about the election-related activities of some religious charities at this year’s federal election,” wrote Mr Gladman.
“Having charitable status is a privilege that charities need to take seriously. Any election-related activities by charities in direct support of, or opposition to, particular parties or candidates undermines public trust in the charities system.
“Clearly, reforms are needed to prevent such activity from occurring again.”
The RSA previously raised these concerns with the charities regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), claiming that such activities were inconsistent with the ACNC’s guidance for charities relating to supporting or opposing political parties or candidates.
In response, the ACNC said it could not advise on whether it had taken any action in addressing these concerns.
But it reaffirmed that it was important that charities “maintain independence from party politics” and “do not cross the line” into having a purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or candidate.
The RSA has also urged independent MPs and minor parties to pursue broader reforms in the charities sector during the term of the new parliament in order to deliver fairness, restore public confidence, and improve accountability and transparency.
In a letter to them earlier in the year, the RSA identified three key reforms needed: the removal of the ‘Basic Religious Charities’ (BRC) category, as recommended by the Productivity Commission; the removal of ‘advancement of religion’ as a charitable purpose; and removal of tax concessions enjoyed by commercial enterprises owned by religious charities and where business activities were unrelated to the charitable purpose.
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.