Fight for our independence
The Turnbull Government just introduced a "GetUp clause" specifically designed to curb our movement's power. We need hundreds more people joining the GetUp Crew to protect our independent movement.
Eric Abetz and his hard right cronies know they're about to fail for the third time to force Getup members to become an "associated entity" of the ALP and the Greens.
Even worse, they're trying to legislate a gag order on charities fighting to protet the rights of children, people who are homeless and our environment – while letting multinational corporations cut politicians blank cheques.
This is more than an attack on civil society – it's a sinister abuse of government power to silence those who speak out against it.
We need to defend the right of everyday people to participate in democracy and civil society. And that means fighting back with everything we've got. Can you join the Getup Crew with a regular weekly donation to our Civil Society Defence Fund?
Even worse, they're trying to legislate a gag order on charities fighting to protet the rights of children, people who are homeless and our environment – while letting multinational corporations cut politicians blank cheques.
This is more than an attack on civil society – it's a sinister abuse of government power to silence those who speak out against it.
We need to defend the right of everyday people to participate in democracy and civil society. And that means fighting back with everything we've got. Can you join the Getup Crew with a regular weekly donation to our Civil Society Defence Fund?
Your contribution will mean we have the resources to plan for the long fight ahead – and it's not going to be easy. We need to do everything we can to fend off this attack, and be ready to respond to new, sudden attacks on GetUp members and our friends and allies.
Here are some of the things your contributions will make possible:
Together, we can defend our right to campaign for a fairer, thriving and more just Australia.
Here are some of the things your contributions will make possible:
- Electoral law experts and lawyers who can pick this law apart for all its faults and write reports exposing it as a fraud
- An ad campaign exposing how this law is a way to empower the government's multinational mates while silencing their civil society critics
- Potential legal challenges on limitations to political communication
- A knock-down, drag-out political fight to get this law's worst elements stopped cold in the Senate, like we've done time and time before
Together, we can defend our right to campaign for a fairer, thriving and more just Australia.
The "GetUp Clause" is a perverted attempt to drastically redefine who is categorised as an "associated entity", specifically designed to curb the power of GetUp members. It's part of the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017. You can read the exact wording of the "GetUp Clause" below.
287H Requirement to register as an associated entity (1) An entity (except a registered political party or a State branch of a registered political party) must be registered for a financial year as an associated entity, in accordance with subsection (2), if any of the following apply in that year:
(a) the entity is controlled by one or more registered political parties;
(b) the entity operates wholly, or to a significant extent, for the benefit of one or more registered political parties (see also subsection (5));
(c) the entity is a financial member of a registered political party; (d) another person is a financial member of a registered political party on behalf of the entity;
(e) the entity has voting rights in a registered political party; (f) another person has voting rights in a registered political party on behalf of the entity.
(2) The entity must be registered before the end of 28 days after becoming required to be registered.
(3) An entity that is required to be registered under subsection (1) for a financial year must not incur any political expenditure in that financial year, after becoming required to be so registered, if the entity is not registered as an associated entity.
Note: The financial controller of the entity may contravene this subsection if the entity is not a legal person (see section 287C).
Civil penalty: 240 penalty units.
(4) The entity commits a separate contravention of subsection (3) in respect of each day in the period:
(a) beginning on the day the entity first contravenes the subsection; and
(b) ending on the day the entity ceases to contravene the subsection (including the day a civil penalty order is made in relation to any of the contraventions or any later day).
Entities that operate wholly, or to a significant extent, for the benefit of registered political parties
(5) Without limiting paragraph (1)(b), an entity is, for the purposes of this Part, taken to be an entity that operates wholly, or to a significant extent, for the benefit of one or more registered political parties if:
(a) the entity, or an officer of the entity acting in his or her actual or apparent authority, has stated (in any form and whether publicly or privately) that the entity is to operate: (i) for the benefit of one or more registered political parties; or
(ii) to the detriment of one or more registered political parties in a way that benefits one or more other registered political parties; or
(iii) for the benefit of a candidate in an election who is endorsed by a registered political party; or
(iv) to the detriment of a candidate in an election in a way that benefits one or more registered political parties; or (b) the expenditure incurred by or with the authority of the entity during the relevant financial year is wholly or predominantly political expenditure, and that political expenditure is used wholly or predominantly:
(i) to promote one or more registered political parties, or the policies of one or more registered political parties; or
(ii) to oppose one or more registered political parties, or the policies of one or more registered political parties, in a way that benefits one or more other registered political parties; or
(iii) to promote a candidate in an election who is endorsed by a registered political party; or
(iv) to oppose a candidate in an election in a way that benefits one or more registered political parties.
287H Requirement to register as an associated entity (1) An entity (except a registered political party or a State branch of a registered political party) must be registered for a financial year as an associated entity, in accordance with subsection (2), if any of the following apply in that year:
(a) the entity is controlled by one or more registered political parties;
(b) the entity operates wholly, or to a significant extent, for the benefit of one or more registered political parties (see also subsection (5));
(c) the entity is a financial member of a registered political party; (d) another person is a financial member of a registered political party on behalf of the entity;
(e) the entity has voting rights in a registered political party; (f) another person has voting rights in a registered political party on behalf of the entity.
(2) The entity must be registered before the end of 28 days after becoming required to be registered.
(3) An entity that is required to be registered under subsection (1) for a financial year must not incur any political expenditure in that financial year, after becoming required to be so registered, if the entity is not registered as an associated entity.
Note: The financial controller of the entity may contravene this subsection if the entity is not a legal person (see section 287C).
Civil penalty: 240 penalty units.
(4) The entity commits a separate contravention of subsection (3) in respect of each day in the period:
(a) beginning on the day the entity first contravenes the subsection; and
(b) ending on the day the entity ceases to contravene the subsection (including the day a civil penalty order is made in relation to any of the contraventions or any later day).
Entities that operate wholly, or to a significant extent, for the benefit of registered political parties
(5) Without limiting paragraph (1)(b), an entity is, for the purposes of this Part, taken to be an entity that operates wholly, or to a significant extent, for the benefit of one or more registered political parties if:
(a) the entity, or an officer of the entity acting in his or her actual or apparent authority, has stated (in any form and whether publicly or privately) that the entity is to operate: (i) for the benefit of one or more registered political parties; or
(ii) to the detriment of one or more registered political parties in a way that benefits one or more other registered political parties; or
(iii) for the benefit of a candidate in an election who is endorsed by a registered political party; or
(iv) to the detriment of a candidate in an election in a way that benefits one or more registered political parties; or (b) the expenditure incurred by or with the authority of the entity during the relevant financial year is wholly or predominantly political expenditure, and that political expenditure is used wholly or predominantly:
(i) to promote one or more registered political parties, or the policies of one or more registered political parties; or
(ii) to oppose one or more registered political parties, or the policies of one or more registered political parties, in a way that benefits one or more other registered political parties; or
(iii) to promote a candidate in an election who is endorsed by a registered political party; or
(iv) to oppose a candidate in an election in a way that benefits one or more registered political parties.
Here's a recap of what's been happening. To weaken GetUp, Abetz and Dutton have been using the threat of criminal penalties to force us into becoming an "associated entity" of Labor and the Greens. But clearly, they know they're going to lose in court – so they're trying to change the law.
As GetUp members, we act for the benefit of millions of everyday Australians -- not politicians or parties.
To match their government-funded attack we're going to need every ounce of people-power we can muster.
Our independence has been attacked before, and as we become even more powerful, we'll be attacked again. Will you become a valued part of the GetUp Crew with a regular donation to make sure that we can defend our movement's independence and fight for a thriving democracy?
As GetUp members, we act for the benefit of millions of everyday Australians -- not politicians or parties.
To match their government-funded attack we're going to need every ounce of people-power we can muster.
Our independence has been attacked before, and as we become even more powerful, we'll be attacked again. Will you become a valued part of the GetUp Crew with a regular donation to make sure that we can defend our movement's independence and fight for a thriving democracy?
- The Turnbull Government is pushing legislation that would ban foreign donations to political parties, but, crucially, also to charities and civil society organisations. This is a separate part of the same bill that also contains the "GetUp Clause."
- GetUp supports banning offshore cash going to politicians and political parties, and we support any such ban also being extended to us. It's worth noting, however, that we don't get many foreign donations – only around 0.5% over the lifetime of the organisation.
- What we don't support is the Turnvull Government's attempt to use this ban as a covert way to crackdown on civil society advocacy and use the power of government to silence voices they don't want heard.
- This, and the GetUp Clause, are both part of a wider pattern of government attacks on our democratic rights as citizens, and we cannot let them stand.
Become a Civil Society Defender
Join the GetUp Crew today with a regular weekly donation, so we can plan long term – and win this fight.
Want to donate by cheque? Download this form and mail it to us.