MEDIA RELEASE: Charities urge Parliament to pass advocacy protections
Australia’s leading charities have urged Parliament to legislate long-promised protections for charity advocacy.
Hassan Mirbahar – Coordinator, Stronger Charities Alliance (SCA) - said the reforms, set out in a model bill presented to the government in June 2024, would remove long-standing barriers that prevent charities from speaking up for the people they serve.
“The bill enshrines advocacy as a public good, bans government officers from silencing charities on government funding, and ensures independent, merit-based appointments to the national charity regulator,” Mr Mirbahar said.
“The proposal aligns with the federal government’s own Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint, released last year. It calls for legislating the Stronger Charities Alliance reforms by 2026.
“The Stronger Charities Alliance’s model bill costs nothing to taxpayers but delivers confidence, accountability and transparency to a $200 billion sector employing 1.5 million Australians,” said Mr Mirbahar.
Sector leaders want the reforms to be given priority by parliament in early 2026.
Saffron Zomer – Executive Director, Australian Democracy Network
“With a strong mandate, support for the proposed measures in both houses and a model bill already drafted, Parliament can pass the measures easily and quickly. Committing to pass the bill early next year would be a powerful act of national generosity — showing that our leaders stand with the people who hold our communities together.”
Kasy Chambers – Executive Director, Anglicare Australia
“Charities play a vital role through every crisis — from fires to floods to food relief — yet outdated laws and funding rules have made many organisations hesitant to speak out about what’s broken. This model bill will give us freedom to tell the truth without fear of punishment.”
Toby O’Connor – Chief Executive Officer, National Council, St Vincent de Paul Society
“Australians give more at Christmas than at any other time — but generosity depends on trust. Protecting advocacy keeps that trust strong and ensures charities can keep giving and serving their communities all year round.”
Rod Goodbun – Executive Lead, Public Engagement, Oxfam Australia
“The Blueprint recommends exactly what this model bill delivers — recognising advocacy as a public benefit, banning government officers from silencing charities on government funding, and ensuring independent, merit-based appointments to the charity regulator. The message from both government and the sector is the same: charities should be free to speak up for the people they serve.”
Media contact: Peter Lloyd, Media Adviser, Australian Democracy Network — 0428 172 218 — media@australiandemocracy.org.au
