One Nation to support government’s charity crackdown slammed as ‘silencing free speech’ by sector

Queensland senator Pauline Hanson won’t stand in the way of the Federal Government’s controversial plan to crack down on charities after securing changes.

Queensland One Nation senator Pauline Hanson won’t stand in the way of the Federal Government’s controversial plan to crack down on charities, after securing changes that would “protect the churches”.

The Government’s plan is to give the nation’s charity watchdog sweeping powers to investigate and deregister groups engaging in or promoting unlawful acts of trespass, vandalism, theft or assault and threatening behaviour.

But the broad changes have been slammed by more than 100 charities and not-for-profits ranging from Anglicare to the Mackay Conservation Group, for being heavy-handed and an attempt to silence free speech.

A Coalition-chaired committee also raised concerns the regulations could stifle certain types of political protests and freedom of speech.

One Nation had in mid-October indicated the party was on the fence about the new rules, in an obstacle to the government.

Two disallowance motions stand in the way of the measures coming into force, with the first to be voted on in Parliament this week.

But after “lengthy meetings” with federal minister Michael Sukkar and the Australian Christian Lobby that led to changes that “protect the churches”, a One Nation spokesman confirmed the party was now in support of the new regulations.

Senator Pauline Hanson

The Government’s law database shows a new set of changes to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Amendment was registered on November 11.

Mr Sukkar did not say if the changes specifically related to discussions with One Nation, only that the Government had been engaging with the cross bench to ensure the plan would pass.

The latest changes clarify that an offence would need to cause, risk or threaten physical harm, rather than the more broad “personal injury” which included feelings.

Mr Sukkar said the latest changes also put in place plans announced in June to “cut red tape” for more than 5000 small and medium charities by reducing financial reporting thresholds.

Opposition charities spokesman Andrew Leigh said the changes One Nation said would “protect churches” did not address the concerns raised by the sector or the Liberal-led government committee.

“Fears over the breadth of the powers this bill would give the charity commissioner and the limits it places on political communication remain,” he said.

“Churches and charities that stand up for their beliefs and their communities against the authorities will have a harder time thanks to Scott Morrison and One Nation.

“Senator Hanson cannot say she supports free speech when she is helping the Liberals silence our hard-working charities.”

A report commissioned by the coalition of charity and not-for-profit groups, collectively known as Hands Off Our Charities, found the new rules could cost up to $150 million in the year — money that would otherwise go toward community needs.

Mr Sukkar argued that the reforms, if blocked by the Senate, would give “fringe activists” the green light to “continue with their illegal blockades of public roads, trespass and vandalism of work sites and equipment, mass farm invasions and theft of livestock”.

“Giving these organisations charity status means taxpayers will be subsidising deliberate and intentional illegal activity which disrupts Australians going about their daily lives,” he said.