Animal activist group Aussie Farms – the organisation that published farm details for vegan protesters and consumers – has had its charity status revoked.
The charity regulator, Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, announced on Monday that it had revoked the organisation’s charity status following an investigation sparked by federal government complaints.
The website was based on members and users uploading photographs and information about farm practices, and also had an interactive map that listed the locations of farms, abattoirs and dairies.
The Coalition accused the organisation of encouraging vigilantism and trespassing, and had urged the charities commissioner to investigate whether its charity status should be revoked for encouraging illegal behaviour.
Following widespread vegan protests earlier this year, the Coalition was able to win support for its so-called “vegan terrorist” laws that were aimed at the group, which made it an offence for anyone to encourage or promote trespassing.
The regulator’s decision to revoke the charity status takes away the organisation’s commonwealth charity tax concessions, including income tax exemption, fringe benefits tax rebates and goods and services tax concessions.
Gary Johns, the ACNC commissioner who has been a critic of the charity sector, said revocation of charity status was the “most serious action” the regulator could take against a registered organisation.
“Charities must stick to their purpose, and maintain their obligations under the ACNC Act, Charities Act and adhere to Governance Standards.”
“In taking compliance and enforcement action, the ACNC follows its Regulatory Approach Statement to ensure that matters are investigated properly, the appropriate compliance action is taken, and our regulatory action is proportionate to the problems we seek to address.”
In a statement released on Monday, ACNC said it could not release the findings from its investigation into Aussie Farms and could not comment on the nature of its concerns due to secrecy provisions in the ACNC Act.
In January, the then agriculture minister David Littleproud called for Aussie Farms to lose its charity status, saying the organisation was “despicable” for publishing the addresses of farms and abattoirs through an interactive map.
“These people don’t deserve charity status,” Littleproud said.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, had also derided the group, saying they were “grubs” for encouraging on-farm protests.
