Australia’s next federal election is expected in May after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for delivering an early budget in March, paving the way for a campaign fueled by a hopeful economic outlook. But a voice that may be muted in public debate is that of Australia’s NGOs, thanks to newly passed legislation that a previous inquiry warned could potentially silence groups with fears of being classed as political campaigners.
“The bill was rushed and rammed through parliament without consultation,” a spokesperson for the Australian Council for International Development told Devex. “We are seeking guidance on its interpretation and how it will apply. Our fear is that it will tie charities in knots and the voices of the Australian community will be lost in our national conversation.”
This risk to groups advocating on issues such as poverty, refugees, and the environment comes shortly after a tribunal found that Australia’s definition of “public benevolent institution” — or PBI — needed to be broadened to include groups such as Global Citizen, whose work is focused on advocacy around social issues rather than program implementation.