Australia’s leading charities and peak bodies today expressed deep concern that the appointment of Dr Gary Johns to lead the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission indicates the government is intent on silencing Australians by destabilising charities.
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‘Charities across Australia are shaking their heads in disbelief that a high profile anti-charity campaigner has been appointed to replace Susan Pascoe as head of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC).
If charities want to retain the ability to engage in advocacy, they will have to push back against those who believe participation in the public contest of ideas should be restricted to the rich and powerful, write Community Council for Australia CEO David Crosbie, in Pro Bono News, 7 December 2017.
CCA joined a delegation of charity leaders at Parliament House, urging parliamentarians to oppose any legislation that would stifle the voices of Australian charities and restrict overseas philanthropic donations supporting their work.
Recent studies show that an overwhelming majority of Australians support the idea that the voice of charities is an important part of our democracy and all politicians would do well to take note, writes David Crosbie, CEO of Community Council for Australia, Pro Bono News, 23 November 2017.
Leadership is fundamental to the change-making work we do for and with our communities. Investing in our current and emerging leaders is critical to our future, although we often lack the resources to do this as much as we would like.
The diminution of evidence-based public policy and the rise of vested-interest fuelled popularism means the public voice of charities has never been more critical, writes CEO of the Community Council for Australia, David Crosbie in Pro Bono News, 9 November 2017.
The Community Council for Australia (CCA) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australia Schools and is keen to engage in detailed discussion about any proposals arising from the Inquiry.
The Productivity Commission report Shifting the Dial released this week challenges national policy makers and undermines the positions of some of the most powerful vested interests in national politics, writes David Crosbie CEO of Community Council for Australia in Pro Bono News, 26 October 2017.
CCA believes the current system of influence and power in national politics often favours the most economically powerful who benefit economically from certain policies. These policies may or may not be in the broader public interest. This bias towards the most powerful having more input into public policy is partly facilitated through political donations, but mostly operates outside of the disclosure regimes.
Charities that try and advocate for the benefit of community are often at a major disadvantage against very strong and powerful economic interests.