Australian democracy is in danger

Right now, the government is trying to legislate for an increasingly authoritarian Australia.

Parliament sits again on June 18 and the government's proposed espionage and foreign interference laws are up for discussion. These bills could criminalise the ability of charities to advocate on behalf of the public on important issues.

Under these new laws, working with international bodies – say the United Nations – could lead to huge prison sentences and fines. Similar sanctions exist if you protest at a Commonwealth building or political office. And even without these threats to peaceful protest, the law would allow the government to conduct surveillance.

This may sound alarmist, but it’s really happening.

We need to call on Bill Shorten and the Labor party to amend these bills and protect our democracy. Will you let Bill Shorten know why you’re concerned about these attacks on our charities?

Charities and not-for-profits work to support Australians, particularly those in need, and help put issues you care about at the centre of decision-making. But the federal government's new laws will severely restrict advocacy and intimidate participation in public debate.

Restricting advocacy by charities sends a deeply troubling message – that our government is seeking to avoid accountability.

These new laws would also tie charities up in red tape, rather than allowing them to use crucial donations for the purpose they were given. Across the charities and not-for-profit sector, essential funds to alleviate poverty, to support Indigenous self-determination, to push governments to address climate change and to protect our forests, rivers and wildlife are now at risk.

Send the message that the government must keep its #HandsOffOurCharities.

Dear Bill Shorten MP,

The Australian Parliament is currently considering legislation that has far-reaching negative consequences for our democracy.

The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017 and the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017 are expected to be debated in the June parliamentary sitting period.

While intended to stop foreign interference in the Australian electoral process and on national security, charities, community groups and other not-for-profit organisations have discovered the legislation will impose restrictions on them that will hamper their ability to advocate for First Australians, the poor, the homeless, the ill, the climate and the environment.

Together, these Bills will erode political freedoms and civil liberties which lie at the heart of Australia's democracy, particularly the rights to freedom of opinion and expression and the implied right to political communication.

The Espionage and Foreign Interference Bill would prevent Australian charities and not-for-profits from communicating human rights abuses or violations of environmental protections to United Nations bodies, and could treat peaceful protest as a threat to national security.

The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill could force Australian charities to register as agents of foreign governments with whom they have only tenuous links.

If passed in its current form, this legislation will put in jeopardy our ability to defend human rights, to undertake life-saving international aid and development work, to support Indigenous-led conservation and advocacy work, to stand up for the interests of everyday people, to act on climate change and protect the environment.

Restricting advocacy by charities and not-for-profits not only sends a deeply troubling message that government is seeking to avoid accountability, it also would have a chilling effect on informed public debates that are necessary for our democracy.

I urge you to support the call from civil society to have both bills withdrawn and redrafted, with proper and widespread consultation.

Yours faithfully,

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Australian democracy is in danger

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