Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

The government understands that every dollar spent on administration by a community organisation is a dollar not spent on delivering important services, which is why I have recently announced a number of measures to improve our interaction with the sector and to reduce unnecessary red tape for community organisations. We have also revised Commonwealth grant guidelines to lessen the burden of red tape on this sector.

This cooperative approach stands in stark contrast to what we have seen from coalition governments in the federal sphere and what we continue to see from the Newman government. These people trumpet freedom of speech. These people opposite have been lecturing us about freedom of speech, but when it comes to protecting the charities and not-for-profit organisations who deliver to the neediest in the Australian community and the rights of those people to speak out, we hear nothing.

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Senator Brandis is braying another interjection, but he does not stand up once for the not-for-profit sector and the charities in Queensland being gaged by his coalition mates. (Time expired)