Jewish and Islamic leaders have joined the Catholic Church in urging the Labor Government to reject a Productivity Commission recommendation they say could allow a government agency to appoint and remove religious leaders. Source: The Australian.
Amid warnings of an attack on religious communities and schools, Assistant Competition, Charities and Treasury Minister Andrew Leigh quickly ruled out one of the Productivity Commission’s recommendations after its final report into philanthropy was released last week, saying the Government wouldn’t stop tax-deductible donations to school building funds.
He also confirmed yesterday the Government wouldn’t support the commission’s suggestion of abolishing tax-deductible donations towards religious education in public and private schools.
Mr Leigh left open the possibility of expanding the powers of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, despite a growing backlash from faith groups.
In the philanthropy inquiry report, the Productivity Commission said “basic religious charities” should be subject to the same ACNC governance standards and financial reporting requirements as other charities to “improve regulatory transparency and consistency”.
The Catholic Church and legal experts said the ACNC could, under the changes, appoint or remove religious leaders in a move that risked breaching section 116 of the Constitution, which bans the Commonwealth from making any law that prohibits the free exercise of any religion.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said no government official should be placed in a position of becoming an arbiter of doctrine in any religion.
“We call on the Government to reject the commission’s proposal to empower the ACNC Commissioner to suspend, appoint and remove the leaders of religious charities,” Mr Wertheim said.
“It would be beyond their competence, and there is zero evidence of any need for such a drastic measure.”
Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Rateb Jneid said involving the ACNC in the appointments or removal of religious leaders “would not be acceptable” and contradict religious freedom and expression.
Mr Leigh acknowledged that religious organisations were “anchors in our communities” and said he would listen closely to their reaction to the PC’s case for increased transparency from basic religious charities, while refusing to immediately reject the recommendation.
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