From: To: Committee, Environment (REPS) Subject: Re: Submission to House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment Inquiry into the Register of Environmental Organisations May 2015 Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2015 10:17:06 AM Committee Secretary House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment PO Box 6021 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
[email protected] May 12, 2015 Re:Submission to House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment Inquiry into the Register of Environmental Organisations May 2015 I am writing a submission to the Inquiry because I am deeply concerned that some members of the Committee appear to have an anti-environment agenda. While I think that all sectors of society, including the not for profit sector, should have proper oversight, the timing of this particular inquiry makes me believe that there is a political agenda at play. It seems that the federal Coalition government is trying to silence anyone who stands up for the environment. This is shown by various actions taken by those in government: The push by Minister Richard Colbeck for a secondary boycott ban to apply to environmental groups. The ‘Re: - think, Better Tax system Better Australia’ discussion paper, which calls for a review of the Not for Profit sector’s tax deductibility. The cuts to the Environment Defenders Office (EDOs). The government has axed the Grants to Voluntary Environment, Sustainability and Heritage Organisations. This program had bipartisan support since it was set up in the 1970s. Now we have an Inquiry into the tax status of environmental organisations. My concern is that this is an attempt to limit the definition of what activity environmental groups are allowed to carry out if they are to retain their Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.