~!) ~ ; . ~ THE MYER FOUNDATION AC1'1 OOH4Hl9 \8'\ 46 100 632 395 21 May 2015 Peggy Danaee A/g Committee Secretary Parliament of Australia, House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment PO Box 6021 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Ms Danaee, RE: Inquiry into the Register of Environmental Organisations The Myer Foundation would like to make the following submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Register of Environmental Organisations. The Myer Foundation was established in 1959 by Sidney Myer's sons, Baillieu Myer AC and the late Kenneth Myer. The Foundation distributes approximately $5 million dollars per annum to various causes and has a designated funding program area focusing on sustainability and the environment. Over the years the Foundation contributed $13,204,093 to Australian environmental organisations. The current strategy of The Myer Foundation prioritises three themes: acting bigger, adapting better and family engagement. We understand that the issues the Foundation seeks to address are pervasive and complex and that a single organisation cannot hope to make a significant difference to those issues. It is essential that we work with others to achieve significant impact, hence having a variety of other organisations to grant to or with is critical to our strategic approach. In this respect the Register of Environmental Organisations plays a central role in relation to The Myer Foundation's environmental grantmaking. While The Myer Foundation does not require an organisation to hold Deductible Gift Recipient status, it is clear that DGR is essential for environment organisations to attract resources from the wider philanthropic sector and Australian society. The Register has been successful in encouraging growth of a number of organisations and resources in the environmental area. Our ability to achieve our goals is reliant upon this continuing and growing. In this spirit, I make the following comments which specifically relate to the Inquiry's first three terms of reference: the definition of environmental organisation, the requirements organisations on the Register must meet and the activities undertaken by organisations on the Register. PO Box 21676, Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria 8011 , Australia Telephone 61.3.8672-5555 Website www. myerfoundation.org.au Myer Family Commitment The Sidney and Merlyn Myer family has a longstanding commitment to integrity and ethical service, and wishes to prom0te creativity, innovation, tolerance, and the fulfilment of potential for all in society. Regarding the definition of environmental organisation, I note the current definition enshrined in legislation is broad. That is entirely appropriate. Environmental organisations should be defined by what they seek to achieve - which is environmental protection - not by the approaches they take to achieve their goals. Whilst on-ground works are an important element of environmental enhancement, The Myer Foundation understands that a broad range of approaches are necessary to protect the environment. As part of The Myer Foundation acting bigger strategy, we recognise the importance of resourcing a wide range of activities to have impact, incorporating all aspects of convening, advocacy, feasibility assessment, cross sector partnerships and evaluation. Many organisations on the Register undertake advocacy as a strategy to protect the environment. This strategy helps raise awareness about the issues as well as direct financial resources towards environmental causes. The ecosystem of existing organisations ensures that the work of different non-for-profits complements each other; those engaged in advocacy often enhance and strengthen the work of organisations that do 'on-ground' work, research and monitoring. There is no one 'right way' to protect our environment, the issue is so urgent and pressing that we should be using all the tools available to us - including advocacy. The law upholds the right of charities to undertake advocacy. Any reduction to the scope of activities organisations on the Register can undertake will reduce their ability to protect the environment and also impede the ability of philanthropy to support the most effective initiatives. Finally, we question whether there is a need to increase the requirements to be met by organisations to maintain their position on the Register. The advantage of the current system is that members of the public and philanthropy exercise their own judgement and choose to support organisations they believe are most effective and focusing on the most critical issues. Our democracy is enriched by the flexibility given to individuals and foundations to make their own decisions. The integrity of this system must be upheld. Philanthropy plays a very important role in supporting positive change in Australian society. Our role is to enhance the ability of government and the non government sector to meet their goals. The Myer Foundation commends the Register of Environmental Organisations as a way to stimulate environmental philanthropy, support the growth of an effective environment sector, and most importantly enable adequate environment protection. We trust that the Parliamentary Committee will recognise the urgency of Australia's environmental issues and support the continuation and growth of the Register. In particular, we urge the Committee support the current register as the key place to find a diversity of environment organisations working with a variety of approaches beyond 'on-ground' work to achieve protection of Australia's unique environment. Leonard Chief Executive PO Box 21676, Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria 80 11 , Australia Telephone 61 .3.8672-5555 Website www.myerfoundation.org.au Myer Fami ly Commitment The Sidney and Merlyn Myer family has a longstanding commitment to integrity and ethical service, and wishes to promote creativity, innovation, tolerance, and the fulfilment of potential for all in society. .