CATHOLIC Health Australia (CHA) has described as “worrying” that the Federal Government plans to hold another inquiry into Church and charitable organisations.
“Given recent history, it is not hard to wonder whether this is just another opportunity for the Federal Treasury to take away the tax-exempt status of Church-run health and aged care services,” said CHA executive director Francis Sullivan.
“Putting Church and charitable organisations through another inquiry is placing the cart before the horse,” he said.
The Industry Commission carried out an inquiry into charitable organisations and presented its report to Federal Cabinet in September 1995.
Mr Sullivan said that before a new inquiry into charitable organisations the Government should “firstly reveal its agenda for these services in Australia’s social and economic environment in the 21st century”.
“Clearly viability is a crucial issue and any inquiry which aims to pinpoint the role of Church-owned health and aged care services should be concerned about this matter.
But the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Queensland president Tim O’Connor said his organisation would welcome any inquiry which enhanced the work of genuinely charitable groups.
