Advertisement
Indigenous-led charities are concerned new federal government regulations tabled in Parliament on Tuesday could prevent them from speaking out on important social issues for fear they may face deregistration proceedings.
Proposed changes to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Regulations 2013 seek to broaden the commissioner’s ability to strike off non-profits and non-government organisations from the charity register if they are deemed to have committed “summary” – or low-level – offences including blocking a footpath and unlawful assembly in private or public spaces.
George Selvanera from the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service says the proposed legislation could be damaging for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.