COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR AUSTRALIA
We are an independent member-based charity peak body dedicated to building flourishing communities by enhancing the extraordinary work of Australia’s not-for-profit sector. We do this by changing the way governments, communities and the not-for-profit sector relate to one another. In particular, this includes establishing a regulatory environment that works for community organisations - not against them. Find out more...
Latest News
CCA's submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) expresses concern at the negative impact of the proposed Foreign Influence Transparence Scheme Bill 2017 on many Australian charities. Australian charities are well-regulated by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and the Bill's broad 'catch all' terms threaten to ensnare many charities going about their normal activities in support of their charitable purpose. CCA, as does the Law Council of Australia, calls for an exemption for charities registered with the ACNC.
The Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform ) Bill 2017 was introduced to the Senate on 7 December.
It seeks to address political influence and foreign donations with a ‘catch all’ approach that fails to recognise that charities are already prohibited from partisan political activity – but have a legitimate role as advocates when speaking up on issues in pursuit of their charitable purpose.
Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for World Vision and CCA Chair talks to Sky News:
CCA CEO David Crosbie shares an extract from his opening statement before the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security inquiry into the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill, and why the CCA are concerned the proposed legislation could impose new administrative and compliance requirements on charities in Pro Bono News, 1 Feb 2018.
This submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters outlines key areas of concern for the Community Council for Australia (CCA) in relation to changes to the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017.
CCA CEO David Crosbie tells Pro Bono News that “Any doubt about the intention of the new ACNC commissioner to impose an ill-conceived restrictive agenda on all charities can now be dispelled with the ACNC submission into their review. The proposed new objects alone should be a wake-up call to every charity in Australia.
