Greens push to deregister charity behind arms expo

The Greens want AMDA Foundation, which organised the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, stripped of its official charity status, arguing that a company that provides a platform for weapons manufacturers responsible for genocide and war crimes is not a charity. 

Billed as the largest weapons expo in the southern hemisphere, the arms showcase was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 9–11.

The gathering, which received vocal support from the Victorian government, led to three days of violent clashes between police and protestors that brought parts of the city to a standstill.

AMDA’s status as a multi-million-dollar charity exhibiting weapons was first reported by Michael West Media.

On its website, AMDA describes its mission as promoting the development of Australian industrial, manufacturing and information and communications technology and resources, in the fields of aviation, aerospace, space, maritime, defence and security.

“It achieves these goals by delivering Australia’s most prominent and respected world-class biennial industry expositions, airshows and platforms for interaction between industry, defence, government and academia,” the site says.

The summary of the groups activities published on the ACNC Charity Register says the activities are not directed to the benefit of any particular group of individuals or businesses, but to promoting the development of Australian resources and Australian aviation.

“As such their activities are for the benefit of the Australian community as a whole,” it says.

This rationale did not sit well with Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri and party leader Adam Bandt, who have written to the ACNC asking it to revoke AMDA Foundation’s registration. 

“It’s outrageous that AMDA, a company that hosts multinational weapons expos, can masquerade as a charity,” said Ms de Vietri.

“Nothing about this event is charitable. The public can’t even attend this event. This is all about tax deductions for the weapons manufacturers and government representatives looking for their next cushy job.” 

The Greens said AMDA runs several major weapons-related trade exhibitions across the country where military organisations, government representatives, trade delegates and military officials from around the world buy and sell weapons, ammunition, military parts, and equipment.

“The weapons industry profits from death and destruction. They promote war because they benefit from it. That is no way beneficial to the general public,” said Ms de Vietri.

“A company that promotes profiting from violent oppression around the world should not be enjoying charity tax concessions.

“Revoking AMDA’s charity status is a step we can take to stop enabling multinational companies to profit from killing people.” 

AMDA declined to comment when contacted by the Community Advocate.

An ACNC spokesperson confirmed that AMDA Foundation is a registered charity and is up to date with its reporting requirements.

The spokesperson said that while the regulator can’t comment on the circumstances of a charity other than what is shown from the Charity Register, anyone can raise a concern about a charity with the ACNC.

“If a concern is raised, the ACNC cannot keep the person who raised the concern informed about any investigation we may be undertaking,” the spokesperson said.

“This approach is a requirement of the secrecy provisions in the ACNC Act which bind the ACNC Commissioner and their staff.”

The ACNC said that when a concern about a charity is raised, the regulator embarks on a standard independent process to review the charity's details and, if necessary, launches an investigation.

“Our Commissioner's Policy Statement: Compliance and Enforcement sets out the scope of our compliance functions and powers and our approach to using these powers,” the spokesperson said.

“Any investigation we undertake must be thorough, independent, comprehensive, proportionate and consistent with our approach to all investigations.”

The ACNC said any such investigation can be “complex and take time to complete.”

The spokesperson said that speaking generally, the ACNC can investigate concerns that a charity has breached the ACNC Act or the Governance Standards.

“In line with our regulatory approach statement, we seek to guide and advise first to bring charities back into compliance with their obligations, if possible.”