Sector Needs A Say On Charities Bill Number Two
ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today urged the Labour Government to extend
the consultation timeframe for its second version of the Charities Bill.
"It is completely irresponsible that the Government is attempting to railroad through this wholesale regulation of the
30,000-strong charitable sector before Christmas," Dr Newman said.
"Labour got the first draft of the Bill so wrong that almost the entire charitable sector vehemently opposed it. Now
the Government has had a second go - but is trying to exclude interested parties in its haste to ram it through into
law.
"The Charities Bill has been significantly re-written, and all submitters involved in the first draft must be given the
opportunity to consult on the second - inviting a selected group to consult on this important re-write is unacceptable.
"Labour appears more concerned with getting this Bill passed before election year, than in getting it right. If this
were not the case, the Government would extend the submission and consultation timeframe in order to discover and amend
any flaws in this re-written Bill.
"Once again, I am calling on the Labour Government to follow proper procedure and open this re-written Bill for full
and open submissions, to allow the public a real chance to have its say.
"Then, and only then, can we be assured that this is a workable law that will benefit everyone - not a legislative
nightmare that will prevent the charitable sector doing its good work," Dr Newman said.