Another federal election pledge is poised to wither on the vine, with the Abbott government struggling to find the numbers it needs in the Senate to axe the charities watchdog.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Before the 2013 election, the Coalition promised to get rid of the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission, which it argues increases red tape for the sector.
So far, the ACNC abolition bill is the only piece of legislation listed for debate in the lower house on Thursday, which is the last scheduled sitting day of the year.
But the government is struggling to find the support it needs in the Senate. While David Leyonhjelm has signalled he is inclined to support the abolition, he has not yet made a final decision. Labor and the Greens and Nick Xenophon oppose the bill, with PUP and Jacqui Lambie also signalling their opposition.
Shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh said the government's plan to abolish the ACNC was in a "shambles".
"Tomorrow, the government will attempt to rush through a pointless bill which cannot pass the Senate."
Dr Leigh has also questioned why the government has listed the ACNC bill for debate on Thursday, given it has not been debated since it was introduced in March.
A spokeswoman for Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews said the bill had been delayed by other government priorities.
The charity sector is strongly in favour of keeping the ACNC, with a survey recently finding that 82 per cent of those polled in the sector think the ACNC is important. Some 40 high-profile Australian charities, including World Vision, the RSPCA and Lifeline, have also signed an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, urging him to keep the commission.
The renewed push to scrap the charities commission comes during one of the busiest periods for charities. On Monday, the ACNC urged Australians to donate to a charity registered with the watchdog, so they could be sure they were not getting scammed.
Community Council of Australia chief executive David Crosbie said that the government was sending the charity sector a "derisive Christmas card" by listing the ACNC bill for debate on the last day before the summer holidays.
"It's almost bizarre that you would continue to push to dismantle an organisation that is not only doing good work [but] enjoys the support of the sector it is regulating," he said.
