The nation’s largest consultation with Australian charities commences today, as sector representatives meet to discuss how to reverse the collapse in community life.
Over the past generation, Australia’s community bonds have frayed as people have become less likely to join, volunteer and participate in community activities.
The charity sector is critical in reconnecting people, but is facing unprecedented pressure. In recent years, charity staff and volunteers have helped millions of Australians rebuild their lives after floods and fires, and have kept communities together in the face of falling volunteer numbers and a decline in donations.
They need help, so they can continue helping others.
The Albanese Government is committed to being a true partner to charities, and has pledged to fix fundraising laws, double philanthropy by 2030, and support charitable advocacy.
Through a series of ‘Building Community’ Town Hall meetings, the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury will meet with Australian charity leaders to discuss policies and collaborate on how to repair the sector.
Roundtables will be held in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth this week, before heading to Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin. Events will also be organised for regional and remote areas. All registered charities in each state have been invited to attend.
Quotes attributable to Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury:
"The past few decades have seen a serious decline in people engaging with their local communities, and the Liberals’ war on charities only made the problem worse."
"Their nine years of neglect and undermining of the sector prompted a succession of open letters from the charity sector, calling on successive Liberal Prime Ministers to back off their attacks on charities. Charities even wrote to the United Nations."
"In the new Australian Government, charities have a true partner. Labor respects the role of charities, and wants to empower them to help the community. We will continue to work collaboratively with charities to reconnect Australia."
"The war on charities ended with the election of the Albanese Government. Now it’s time to rebuild."