In June 2014, Liberal MP Andrew Nikolic introduced a motion at the Liberal Party Federal Council meeting calling for environmental groups to be stripped of charitable status and tax-deductible donation privileges [1].
The motion was unanimously endorsed by the party council and specifically targeted 13 environmental organizations listed in the tax act that receive deductible donations, including the Wilderness Society, Australian Conservation Foundation, Bob Brown Foundation, and Environmental Defenders Offices [1].
While the government did establish a parliamentary inquiry in 2015 to review the Register of Environmental Organisations (REO), this inquiry did not result in stripping charity status from the targeted groups [3].
The 2015 inquiry, chaired by Liberal MP Alex Hawke, examined whether tax-deductible donations to environmental groups were being used appropriately, but ultimately no changes were made to remove charitable status from the major environmental organizations named in the motion [3].
Nikolic specifically cited groups "engaging in the sort of activism that is at odds with Tasmania's future prosperity" and referenced "boot camps" and "illegal activities" - referring to environmental protests against logging operations [1].
The High Court precedent on political advocacy.** In 2010, the High Court ruled that groups with tax-deductible status have the right to engage in political debate and advocacy.
The selective targeting of environmental groups.** While environmental groups faced scrutiny, conservative organizations with charity status that engage in political advocacy - notably the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) and the Waubra Foundation - did not face equivalent scrutiny from Coalition MPs [4].
The Waubra Foundation actually lost charity status for different reasons.** In December 2014, the Waubra Foundation (an anti-wind farm group) did have its health promotion charity status revoked by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) - but this was because the ACNC found insufficient evidence that "wind turbine syndrome" was a recognized human disease, not because of political activism [5].
**6.
No action was ultimately taken.** Despite the 2015 inquiry and political rhetoric, the 13 major environmental groups targeted retained their charity status and tax-deductible donation privileges throughout the Coalition government period [2].
It accurately describes the motion as a party council decision rather than government policy [1].
**Independent Australia (second source):** Independent Australia is a progressive online publication with a clear left-leaning editorial stance.
The article focuses on what it characterizes as a "rort" allowing conservative groups like the IPA to maintain charity status while environmental groups face scrutiny [4].
**Did Labor do something similar?**
Search conducted: "Labor government environmental groups charity status tax deductible"
Finding: No equivalent Labor government action to strip environmental groups of charity status was found.
* * * *
In fact, the environmental DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) register that provides tax-deductible status to environmental groups was established under earlier governments and maintained by Labor [3].
Labor governments have historically maintained the tax-deductible status for environmental organizations without attempting to strip their charitable privileges.
The 2010 High Court ruling affirming environmental groups' right to political advocacy occurred during the Rudd/Gillard Labor government period [3].
**Key differences:**
- No Labor MP introduced equivalent motions to strip charity status from environmental groups
- Labor maintained the environmental DGR register without significant restrictions
- Labor did not establish inquiries specifically targeting environmental groups' tax status
While critics characterized the 2014 motion as a "draconian attack on free speech" and part of a pattern of silencing environmental advocacy [1][3], supporters argued that taxpayers should not subsidize political activism through tax concessions [1].
The motion's backers cited concerns about "illegal activities" by environmental protesters, though these claims were disputed and largely unsubstantiated [2].
The broader political context is important: this occurred during the Abbott government's first term, when the Coalition was pursuing an aggressive agenda on resource development, including attempts to delist World Heritage areas in Tasmania and weaken environmental approval processes [3].
The targeting of environmental groups' funding mechanisms can be seen as part of a wider strategy to reduce the capacity of environmental organizations to oppose government policies [3].
However, the claim as stated - "Moved to strip environmental organisations from charity status" - is technically accurate in that a motion was passed, but misleading in implying this was government policy or that action was actually taken.
The motion was a party position statement, not legislation, and the targeted groups retained their charitable status throughout the Coalition government.
**Key context:** This targeting of environmental groups' tax status **is not unique to the Coalition in intent** - various political figures have questioned whether tax concessions should support politically active organizations.
However, the **selective targeting of environmental groups while exempting conservative advocacy organizations** with similar political activities does represent a partisan approach to the issue [4].
The claim contains a kernel of truth: Andrew Nikolic did introduce a motion at the 2014 Liberal Party Federal Council calling for environmental groups to be stripped of charitable status [1].
It fails to mention the selective nature of the targeting (environmental groups scrutinized while conservative advocacy groups like the IPA were not)
The claim would be more accurate if it stated: "A Liberal MP moved at a party meeting to strip environmental organisations of charity status, but no legislation was passed and the groups retained their status."
The claim contains a kernel of truth: Andrew Nikolic did introduce a motion at the 2014 Liberal Party Federal Council calling for environmental groups to be stripped of charitable status [1].
It fails to mention the selective nature of the targeting (environmental groups scrutinized while conservative advocacy groups like the IPA were not)
The claim would be more accurate if it stated: "A Liberal MP moved at a party meeting to strip environmental organisations of charity status, but no legislation was passed and the groups retained their status."