National Election Debate to Consider Future of Charity Sector

Australia’s Not for Profit sector is taking the debate on its future directly to Canberra and the National Press Club in the lead up to the 2 July poll.

Peak body, the Community Council for Australia has organised a national debate on Tuesday 14 June between federal political leaders from the major parties on the sector’s future and to urge the parties to place the issues onto the national policy agenda.

CCA chair and World Vision chief advocate Tim Costello will host the debate which will bring together Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh, Greens Senator Rachel Siewert and Liberal Senator for the ACT, Zed Seselja.

“CCA believes this is a very important debate for our sector, for our communities and for this election,” CEO David Crosbie said.

“Facilitating this discussion has not been easy, despite writing personal letters to over 100 candidates. Now, at the halfway point of the election campaign, the National Press Club lunch debate will focus exclusively on the future of the charities and Not for Profit sector.

“The positions taken in this debate will play a role in shaping the Not for Profit policy agenda of the major political parties. CCA is hoping there will be some common ground around priorities and the need for increased certainty across the sector.”

Crosbie said that by way of informing the debate, CCA was conducting a survey of its members on some of the key issues. The results of the survey will be provided to all speakers prior to the debate.

“It is interesting to note that almost every election candidate appears keen to highlight their connections to local charities and Not for Profits as part of their public profile,” Crosbie said.

“Clearly most politicians recognise that the community of voters they are appealing to values the sector, and that being associated with the sector is a positive factor contributing to their election.  

“Unfortunately, only a few candidates appear to have thought about how they or their party could better support the productivity and effectiveness of the sector.  

“This National Press Club debate will enable each major party to not just talk about how valuable the sector is, but to lay out its policy agenda and explain how it will work to better support the sector.”

For more details about how to attend the National Press Club debate contact leighw@communitycouncil.com.au. Direct bookings can be made here.