Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

When we adjourned the debate on this bill the minister had just finished an answer which I would like to follow up. He did not answer the question about who is covered under this particular section. I am sorry; I am fiddling around looking for the definition because I want to specifically ask about the definition of a community services entity.

The question I asked before related to whether non-government organisations are caught up under this provision. My reading of the definition is that they are and my reading of the definition gives this series of sections quite substantive powers in terms of how they can direct organisations, how they can take their assets and require them to be used, and how they can put observers on their boards and in their meetings. I want some answers to some fairly specific questions about who this covers and whether it covers non-government organisations as community service organisations. The bill says:

(d)   any other person or entity:

       (i)    that performs functions or provides services in a business management area; and

       (ii)   that is specified by the Minister (whether by reference to a class of person or entity or otherwise), by legislative instrument, for the purposes of this paragraph.

I am seeking detail about this because I am concerned that it has quite significant ramifications for organisations that choose to work in prescribed areas. In fact, certain organisations, because they may be covered by these provisions, may choose not to work in a prescribed area, because of the powers it gives the minister.