18 September 2012

Coalition trying to wreck not-for-profit reform

Note

Joint media release with
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Social Inclusion

The Coalition is applying its reckless negativity to important reforms that support the not-for-profit sector by filibustering debate in Parliament.

A bill to establish the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is currently before the House of Representatives.

After declaring that they would turn their back on the NFP sector and not support the establishment of the ACNC, the Coalition have now decided to force dozens of their MPs to speak on the bill in a last-ditch cynical attempt to delay its passage through Parliament.

"The sector has called for the establishment of the ACNC and they want to see this bill passed," said Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury.

"The Coalition is not putting the interests of Australia's hard-working NFP sector first – they are more interested in their own political interests.

"The Coalition should listen to the overwhelming majority of NFP stakeholders who support the establishment of the ACNC and get out of the way of this important reform."

"The ACNC is the cornerstone of the Government's NFP reform agenda, which recognises the vital services that the sector delivers and the important role that it plays in communities across Australia," said Minister for Social Inclusion, Mark Butler.

"The sector has long been calling for the establishment of an NFP regulator and for the Coalition to now try and play politics with this is disgraceful.

"I call on the Coalition to stop their cynical filibustering and to show their support for the NFP sector."