NAYBA Australia report reveals how much religion is worth to the Gold Coast

A first-of-its-kind report has revealed how much religion and charity work done by Christian and multi-faith groups is worth to the city’s economy. It’s surprising.

CHARITY work by Gold Coast Christian and multi-faith groups is worth more than $43m annually according to a first-of-its-kind report.

The city was the nation’s first large city to have the value of its faith tested by third-party group NAYBA, which was commissioned by the Gold Coast City Council.

It found that the social impact of outreach work by religious group was at least $43m

The report’s author, NAYBA Australia national director Nic Mackay, said that figure was “highly conservative”.

Religious outreach work is worth more than $43m to the economy.

The report surveyed 52 per cent of the city’s faith-based groups in the year covering July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 and found:

* 206 community service activities addressed 13 of the greatest social issues;

* Nearly 356,000 people had performed service in the past year, the equivalent to 57 per cent. of the Gold Coast population.

Mayor Tom Tate said: “NAYBA advises this is the largest report ever compiled for a community in Australia, so we are lucky to have this data at our fingertips.”

The economic value of faith report comes after heavy public scrutiny earlier this year when it was revealed Mayor Tate had appointed Pastor Sue Baynes to his staff as a “councillor Adviser”.

Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

She has since emerged on video espousing conservative Christian movement the Seven Mountain Mandate (7M), seen as evangelical and extreme.

It believes in a God-given authority to take over the world in seven key areas of society: education, family, business, government, media, arts and religion.

Mr Tate – who she baptised in 2018 – has said her role is 20 hours a week, she is paid a base hourly rate “of a mid-tier administrative officer”, and it’s “within my office budget and off a vacant position”.

On Thursday he denied Ms Baynes’ hiring was linked to the creation of the report.

“Firstly, this report will help the city tremendously as we look to how we can further enhance our assistance to those in need, whether it is during a disaster, after a disaster or simply throughout the year,” he said.

“I never wrote the report but I welcome the findings. Full Council will receive a presentation from NAYBA at the next meeting.”

He said Ms Baynes’ appointment “has been a tremendous help in bringing together not only the report but in elevating the importance of all community groups who work to assist those in need in our city”.

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