From: Vern & Trish
Sent: Friday, 12 August 2011 8:21 PM
To: NFP Reform Consultation
Subject: Proposed legislative changes for Tax Concession entities

The Manager,
Philanthropy and Exemptions Unit,
Personal and Retirement Income Division,
The Treasury,
Langton Crescent,
PARKES.  ACT.  2600.
 
Dear Sir/Madam,
 
With reference to the proposed legislative changes concerning Tax Concession entities, we wish to point out that much of the fundamental community work we do involves giving financial and practical support to either indigent, suffering or needy people e.g. a family whose child has just been diagnosed with a brain tumour and both parents are involved with hospitalization and treatment of the infant;  new immigrants from South Sudan in our community who need basic appliances;  supporting a bereaved family whose mother just died suddenly and unexpectedly;  financial support to a young fellow who was recently rendered unemployed;  provision of money, basic home furniture, food and home repairs in the recent Queensland floods, worth in excess of $25,000.  The extent of giving is much more comprehensive than these few examples.
 
Furthermore, we are also involved in assisting Indigenous people in remote areas of Queensland and Northern Territory and incredibly needy people in other parts of the world, including Philippines, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Mongolia, China (Kunming) and shortly to include Israel (Haifa) and Turkey (Istanbul) also.  These projects have delivered practical help such as the provision of school buildings, counselling services, orphanage facilities, education and resources, social services and building international goodwill.  People who have benefited include impoverished tribal groups, geographically remote, deprived and displaced peoples and children coming from a range of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
 
We have a strong conviction to continue to help people both here in Australia and overseas and to do this without jeopardizing our Taxation Concession status.  The proposed legislative changes would kill the humanitarian services and ‘good Samaritan’ acts to fellow Australians and others that we desire to provide.  It is therefore essential that the relevant legislation Section 50-50 (d) retain a similar measure as that which currently exists and that Section 50-50 (2) (c) be amended to the effect of something like ‘(c) except for charitable purposes (whether or not within Australia), not donate money to any other entity, unless the other entity is an exempt entity’.
 
Your facilitation of this request will mean an incalculable positive difference to Australians and people overseas, to givers and receivers alike and the building of relationships between Australians themselves and less fortunate people groups elsewhere.  Your assistance with this is most appreciated.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Dr. Vernon J. Heazlewood  MBBS Hons. (Qld), MSc (Lond), FRACP, FRCP
 
(On behalf of Board of Directors, Creekside Community Church, c/- Narangba Valley State School, Young Rd., Narangba. Q. 4505 and Mueller Community Church, Morris Rd., Rothwell. Q. 4022) 
 
12th August 2011