The Tasmanian government has reportedly urged Canberra to strip the Bob Brown Foundation of its charitable status. Resources Minister Guy Barnett told The Advocate in Burnie he had written to Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar asking him to consider the Tasmanian-based foundation’s charity status after the foundation placed an advertisement in the Hobart Mercury newspaper on Thursday urging people to “green your vote” in the coming state election. Source: Timberbiz
“This is a clear breach of Charities Act 2013 and the Bob Brown Foundation should be referred to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and stripped of its charity status,” Mr Barnett told The Advocate.
“By openly advertising in support of the Greens, the BBF has clearly crossed the line and exposed their political aims.
“It is no secret that the Bob Brown Foundation is an extremist activist branch of the Greens and this clearly demonstrates they should not be afforded the benefits that legitimate charities receive.
“It is simply outrageous that a political organisation like the BBF are afforded the same benefits that legitimate charities receive”
He said it made a mockery of the entire Charities Act.
Braddon Liberal MHR Gavin Pearce has also reportedly questioned the foundation’s status as a charity, which gives it tax-related advantages.
After foundation activists recently attached themselves to vehicles to prevent access to Venture Minerals Limited’s developing Riley Iron Ore Mine, near Tullah, Mr Pearce told federal parliament: ” … these extremists have made it very clear.”
“They will not stop.
“That’s why I welcome the Morrison Government’s commitment to strengthen laws to ensure charities are prohibited from engaging in, or promoting theft, vandalism, trespass, assault and threatening behaviour.
“This will stop activist organisations like the Bob Brown Foundation, masquerading as charities, from promoting and engaging in unlawful behaviour.”
