Federal Government to look into charity body process

The Federal Government will review the peak charity regulatory body’s processes in the wake of animal activist group Aussie Farms being stripped of its charitable status.

Federal Assistant Charities Minister Zed Seselja has confirmed a review into the process, which led to Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission approving Aussie Farms’ charity status, will be conducted.

It comes after ACNC last month revoked Aussie Farms’ charity status, following an investigation, and stripped the animal activist group of its Federal charity tax concessions, including an income tax exemption.

Mr Seselja said the review would focus on the processes leading to the approval of Aussie Farms’ charitable status. Aussie Farms publishes farming businesses’ locations and contact details online.

“Organisations that incite trespass and sabotage of legitimate businesses have no place in Australia’s charities sector,” he said.

“The ACNC do a great job in regulating charities in Australia.

“However, I have requested urgent advice on this issue and will review the processes that are undertaken that allowed this organisation to be granted charitable status to begin with.”

After ACNC revoked Aussie Farms’ charitable status, the group took to social media to say it was “extremely disappointed” by the decision and attributed it to “pressure from the agriculture industry”.

WA farmers listed on the Aussie Farms website are leading the charge to have the “attack map” taken down, after the group’s charitable status was revoked.

Hillcroft Farms co-owner Dawson Bradford, whose family-owned sheep-pig enterprise near Narrogin is among the many properties listed, last month said the map was “mischievous” and did not “improve animal welfare”.