Senator Claire Chandler
A Tasmanian Liberal Senator wants an activist foundation’s charity status revoked following a string of forestry protests which she says has cost the taxpayer. Liberal Senator Claire Chandler said the Bob Brown Foundation’s online funding page which seeks tax-deductible donations for its activism, should be the “final straw” for its charitable status. Source: The Mercury
The Bob Brown Foundation, in its first action since COVID-19 restrictions were implemented in March, began a new protest near Mount Field to fight logging it claims is destroying the habitat of endangered wedge-tailed eagles with nests in adjacent forests.
Protester Anna Bursek, who spent two nights on a porta-ledge, was arrested this week and charged with trespass and failure to comply with the direction of a police officer. Three ground support protesters were also charged with failure to comply with a direction from the Director of Public Health for non-essential travel beyond 30km of their homes.
Senator Chandler said the “latest blatant workplace invasion” and associated fundraising should cause the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commissioner to revoke the Bob Brown Foundations’ charitable status.
The Foundation’s fundraiser campaign, which has raised over $46,000, tells website visitors: “your pledge today will ensure our campaigns for wild nature will continue to shine brightly with defiance and hope throughout this dark time”.
“It is beyond the pale for Australian taxpayers to be subsidising this activity through allowing tax deductible donations,” Senator Chandler said.
“The Foundation’s abuse of the charitable status takes revenue away from government services like health and education in order to pay for illegal workplace invasions in Tasmania and elsewhere around the country.
“These invasions prevent workers from doing their job, costing them wages and their employers important income.”
In response to Senator Chandler’s comments, BBF chief executive Steven Chaffer said the organisation was registered as a charity to protect the environment, which is what, he said, the foundation’s activities sought to achieve.
“If charities backed down every time they were criticised by vested interests and their political lackeys, they would be rendered ineffective which, of course, is the aim of such attacks,” he said.
“A charity that politely sits on its hands, ignoring the very problem it was set up to address, is failing in its obligations to its supporters and the wider community.”
Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said logging was not an essential service and should cease during the pandemic.
“While the rest of the State has been in lockdown, loggers have been making hay while the sun shines. Out of sight and mind during a pandemic apparently suits them well,” she said.
