8264 (2025). Shanan Halbert to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector

8264 (2025). Shanan Halbert to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector: Should a charity be allowed to engage in homophobic and transphobic lobbying, and if so, why?

Hon Louise Upston: As the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, I am unable to comment on the regulation of individual charities. These are matters for the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department) and the independent Charities Registration Board (the Board) to consider. The Department and the Board have the mandate to consider allegations of serious wrongdoing by registered charities, as defined in the Charities Act 2005 (the Act). Matters are considered by the Department, as the regulator, on a case-by-case basis. As the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, I expect every registered charity to comply with their obligations under the Act. Where wrongdoing is found, I expect that appropriate and decisive action would be taken.