Mar 19, 2011 | GENERAL NEWS, IN THE NEWS, PAST CAMPAIGNS
THE STATESMAN MALCOLM FRASERAMID the backdrop of disasters in Australia and when foreign aid is under scrutiny some who maintain ‘charity begins at home’ may suggest that aid does more harm than good. My own experience has overwhelmingly convinced me that...
Dec 7, 2010 | GENERAL NEWS, IN THE NEWS, PAST CAMPAIGNS
The test case concerned Aid/Watch, a self-described ”activist” group concerned with the relief of international poverty. It seeks to achieve its goals through unorthodox means for a charity. Rather than raising money for or engaging directly in...
Dec 7, 2010 | GENERAL NEWS, IN THE NEWS, PAST CAMPAIGNS
In a David-versus-Goliath moment in 2006, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) deprived the small grassroots organisation Aid/Watch of their charitable status. Goliath was finally defeated in this recent judgment and the High Court confirmed that Aid/Watch can keep its...
Dec 2, 2010 | GENERAL NEWS, IN THE NEWS, PAST CAMPAIGNS
Article originally appeared in The Australian By Rowan Callick LOBBY groups that campaign against government policy will be entitled to claim charity status after a court ruling yesterday. The court swept aside Australian Taxation Office restrictions on...
Dec 1, 2010 | GENERAL NEWS, IN THE NEWS, PAST CAMPAIGNS
Wednesday’s decision overturns a lower court ruling in favour of the Australian Taxation Office.The ATO had argued successfully that Aid/Watch’s lobbying activities meant its main purpose was political and that it could not be categorised as a charitable...
Dec 1, 2010 | GENERAL NEWS, IN THE NEWS, PAST CAMPAIGNS
The fight broke out four years ago, when the Commissioner of Taxation ruled that Aid/Watch wasn’t entitled to the tax exempt status enjoyed by charities because it engaged in political activity. Since then a series of courts have considered the matter,...
