Family First: Labor’s Tax Break for Equality Australia Is Political
Family First has urged the Senate to block special tax-deductible status for Equality Australia, arguing the move politicises charity law and sidelines independent regulatory decisions.
Family First is opposing a Treasury move that will gift activist group Equality Australia (EA) increased charity status.
The inclusion of EA in the omnibus bill is designed to make financial contributions to the LGBTQI+ platform tax-deductible.
Party boss Lyle Shelton said Family First’s request to stop EA from receiving the special status is reasonable.
Family First’s formal opposition, he explained, “is not about denying Equality Australia the right to advocate its views.”
Their opposition is “about preserving the integrity of Australia’s charitable and tax framework.”
“This Isn’t Charity. It’s Politics.”
In a 19 February submission to the Australian Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Shelton argued,
“Equality Australia is undeniably a politically active advocacy organisation engaged in highly contested cultural and legal debates.
“It is therefore inappropriate for such an organisation — having been found by multiple institutions to be primarily advocacy-based — to receive special tax treatment through legislative exception.”
“The issue before the Committee,” Shelton added, “is not whether Equality Australia may advocate its position.
“The issue is whether Parliament should grant special, legislated Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status — after the regulator and court rejected that status.”
Especially given Equality Australia’s political activism.
For instance, EA “campaigns for expanded access to puberty blockers and hormone treatments for minors at a time when these practices are being restricted, reassessed or legally challenged overseas.”
“Taxpayers,” Shelton said, “should not be compelled to subsidise such advocacy through special legislative privilege.”
Governor-General’s Patronage Questioned
In addition, Family First pointed to concerns about Samantha Mostyn’s role with EA.
Mostyn is Australia’s current 709,000-dollar Governor-General, and is also one of Equality Australia’s patrons.
This is a role she has repeatedly refused to resign from, even after critics pointed out that EA’s LGBTrans activism conflicted with the non-partisan provisions governing the highest office in the land.
That conflict is demonstrated by Equality Australia’s “biology is bigotry” involvement in trans-warfare on female-only spaces.
Alongside allegedly pushing for the trans-mutilation of minors, EA has “intervened in litigation involving the women-only ‘Giggle‘ platform,” Shelton said.
Mostyn’s role as Governor-General is at odds with her patronage of an organisation whose ideology “undermines the rights and protections of biological women and girls.”
“You cannot claim to champion women while supporting an organisation that erases the very definition of what a woman is,” Shelton argued.
Integrity of the Tax System at Stake
Further making their case, Family First reminded legislators that EA’s “bid for tax-deductible (DGR) status was rejected by regulators and upheld through tribunal and court processes.”
EA was only added to the omnibus bill after the activist organisation approached the Albanese Government.
Disregarding the ruling of regulators, Labor decided to bypass the outcome of that process and “introduce special legislation which will grant EA that status anyway.”
This creates, Shelton remarked, “the appearance that independent processes have been overridden.”
“The existence of such an arrangement while simultaneously seeking legislative intervention raises serious integrity concerns,” he said.
“The DGR framework exists to ensure neutrality and consistency.”
“Legislative carve-outs for individual advocacy bodies risk politicising that framework.”
Adding to his public comments about the matter, Shelton wrote on X,
“This isn’t charity. It’s politics.”
“Tax-deductible status is a public subsidy. It means it costs the Australian taxpayer,” he asserted.
“At a time when countries like the UK are shutting down child gender clinics and reassessing these controversial treatments, why should Australian taxpayers be forced to subsidise an organisation advocating medicalised gender transition for minors?
“Some organisations,” Shelton resolved, “should not be ‘more equal’ than others.
“The integrity of our tax system — and the protection of children — is at stake.”
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Great article about Lyle and the courageous Family First!!!!!
one wonders what his motivation is?
his suggestion that EA be denied DGR status based on their political activism is a direct swipe at the australian christian lobby.
this is a long running pentecostal dispute between FF (backed by ACC) and the ACL (backed by INC).
lyle knows full well that if EA loses its DGR status, then so will ACL.
ACL does not have DGR status
It is not a “Charity ” but politics with its patron , Sam Mostyn , who is NOT independent , but, chosen by Labor to rubber-stamp all Labor legislation. In this case it is an attack on Christian Faith schools. With Labor in government for next 2 years and holding 94 seats (soon to be another new 40 Labor seats created, probably fielded by Muslims in Muslim -majority areas ), Australia is “cooked ” .Bye , bye freedom of thought, religion, etc. If Islam was happy to live in peace with us, it would not matter, but, it is the religion of Jihad and Intolerance which does not subscribe to the 10 Commandments , but, the opposite as Ali Tabrizzi and many ex-Muslims will tell you .Why do we need to pay $709, 000-00 to this Labor Party woman who serves, in my opinion, no useful purpose because Hawke’s “The Australia Act ” of 1968 broke all our ties with the UK and the Church of England ? In my opinion , it is time to abolish the position of Governor-General.
Thank you Rod for shedding light on the situation we face in Australia. It is clear that we need a Governor General who is impartial and not favouring Labor or leftist policies. Its very sad to hear of the leaning towards the leftist points of views on Gender and other issues.
The statements made within your article show the dangers at hand for Australia:- “Mostyn’s role as Governor-General is at odds with her patronage of an organization whose ideology “undermines the rights and protections of biological women and girls.” and…. “You cannot claim to champion women while supporting an organization that erases the very definition of what a woman is,” Lyle Shelton of Family First argued.
In the past we have had Governor Generals who look at the constitution as a guide, and to Christians based values often. Also the Governor generals of the past have looked to the good of the nation and welfare of all ….as pointed out in your article there are now political constraints in place which favour Labors political views. That is not he true role of a Governor General!
May we keep praying for this situation to change in order to protect our original Judeo Christians values
In the past we have had Governor Generals who look at the constitution as a guide, not ideologies.
I my opinion, they did a much better job – they were championing “a fair go Mate”.
Sall Grover’s post on X 2 days ago, showed an email she sent to Senator Katy Gallagher. Speaking out against EA getting this tax-deductible status and their lobbying against the rights of women, children and biological rights. I followed suit and sent an email myself to Senator Gallagher ,as the Minister for women and finance I am hoping she takes note of our concerns.