Australian Churches, Charitable Institutions Tax Status in JeopardySYDNEY, August 18, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Australia’s opposition party is calling on the ruling coalition government to clarify new restrictions placed on churches and other charitable institutions, which stipulate that criticism of the government or its policies can lead to revocation of their charitable tax status.
Opposition treasury spokesman Wayne Swan said the new measure is the “sort of thuggery . . . typical of a Government that’s drunk on its own power,” according to an abc.net.au report. He said the institutions that represent the underprivileged should be free to voice their opposition to policies that may affect the poor.
“Churches and charities have weighed into the industrial relations debate - they've got a positive contribution to make,” Swan said. “It appears that under this ruling, their tax deductibility could well be threatened.”