Responding to reports that amendments to the Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform Bill have passed the Senate, Oxfam Australia's Head of Public Policy and Advocacy Rachel Ball said:
"Oxfam welcomes the significant changes that have been made to this Bill in order to protect the freedom of organisations like ours to speak out on important issues like poverty, climate change and inequality.
"Far from being a threat to the Australian public, it is in fact critical to a functioning democracy that non-government organisations are able to promote good practice and human rights through their advocacy.
"That's why Oxfam joined the Hands Off Our Charities coalition, which has spent the past year campaigning for changes to the Bill.
"It was appreciated that parliamentarians were open to hearing the charity sector's concerns and that the work done with the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and several MPs has ensured this Bill strengthens our democracy – instead of weakening it.
"Advocating to the Government and public is an important part of Oxfam's work in empowering communities and tackling poverty."
