Charitable organisations
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:32): (120) My question is again to the Minister for Environment. Minister, this morning on 3AW’s Neil Mitchell program Omer Soker, chief executive officer of Charitable Recycling Australia, said that they had asked to meet with you nine to 10 times. You just said that you have been engaging, but he said they have asked to meet with you nine to 10 times. Why have you continuously refused to meet with the charity sector regarding their concerns about the Andrews Labor government’s tax on charities?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (12:32): This is not a laughing matter. I find it extraordinary that Ms Crozier could assert the things that she has just asserted about my engagement in this important policy matter.
Georgie Crozier interjected.
Ingrid STITT: Ms Crozier, if you would let me actually get a few words out in answer to your important question about my engagement in this issue, I am very well aware that there have been significant amounts of correspondence. I have actually written to the CEO of the peak body recently about these issues and reassured him that the government will continue to support the efforts of charitable recyclers not only because it is the right thing to do but because it is an important part of our circular economy efforts to reduce the amount of landfill. I understand the issues that the charitable recyclers are advocating for and that their peak body is advocating for. You are misrepresenting my position in relation to these matters, Ms Crozier. I will continue to make sure that our charitable recyclers are supported.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:34): Minister, I am acknowledging the fact that you have written, but you have not actually had the time to meet face to face even though they have requested a meeting nine to 10 times. So, Minister, has your reluctance to meet with the sector face to face been because you know that the cost-benefit ratio of imposing the Andrews Labor government’s charities tax will have a significant negative impact on the sector?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (12:34): No. I completely reject that assertion. My office has met with the organisation that is the peak body for charitable recyclers in this state. I cannot be any clearer than I already have been. Since 2014 our government has made sure that charitable recyclers can continue their important work without an impost on them, and we will continue to do that important work to support them.
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:35): I move that the minister’s answer to the op shop tax question be taken into account on the next day of meeting.
The PRESIDENT: Do you want to rephrase that as a motion that I can put?
David DAVIS: I move:
That the minister’s answer be taken into account on the next day of meeting.
Motion agreed to.