Andrew Leigh

Another day, another not-for-profit group publicly telling Kevin Andrews we need to keep the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission...

MEDIA RELEASE

DOES ANYONE STILL SUPPORT KEVIN ANDREWS?

Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews is becoming increasingly isolated in his crusade to abolish the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, with a key representative of the Catholic church rejecting plans to scrap it.  

In an opinion piece today the General Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Rev Brian Lucas, has argued for constructive modifications to the commission while endorsing many of its key functions.     

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference had previously been regarded as one of the strongest supporters of the government's moves to scrap the charities commission.

Its decision to split with the extreme views of Minister Andrews shows just how out of touch the Abbott Government has become with mainstream opinion on the commission.

A survey out this week found that four-fifths of charities want to keep the charities commission. In a speech to the National Press Club on Monday, World Vision Australia CEO Tim Costello said: "The sector overwhelmingly believes the government has got it wrong in its attempts to dismantle the ACNC and return the regulation of the sector to the Australian Tax Office."

The charities commission is good for donors, charities and taxpayers.

At a time when transparency and accountability in the charity sector is more important than ever, Kevin Andrews must see sense and walk away from his plans to axe it.

WEDNESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER, 2014

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