Turning words into weapons

Posted on 29 Apr 2025

By Greg Thom, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia

Charities Minister Andrew Leigh and Opposition Charities spokesman Senator Dean Smith locked horns with each other last week at the National Press Club in Canberra.

In a dignified but at times feisty exchange at the Charities and Not-for-profit Pre-election Forum, the men figuratively circled each other like boxers in a ring attempting to land knock-out blows highlighting how each had failed to deliver for the sector.

Both politicians also went to great pains to highlight the important role played by charities and NFPs in helping disadvantaged Australians and contributing to social cohesion.

The Community Advocate was there, and with federal election just around the corner, we present quotable quotes from the exchange.

“It’s not that we care less. It’s just the threads that once wove us together have become steadily frayed. And in that context, charities play a vital role.”

Andrew Leigh on how Australians have become more disconnected from civic society.

“They’re not just service providers. They’re social glue.”

Andrew Leigh on the important role of charities in an increasingly disconnected society.

“I’m at a distinct disadvantage here. I must be the most impatient person in the room.”

Senator Dean Smith highlights how he has managed to harness the power of the Senate to be heard and to get things done to benefit the sector.

“We didn’t commission these reports so that they could sit on shelves gathering dust.”

Andrew Leigh pushes back on suggestions the Albanese government has been slow responding to recommendations contained in the Productivity Commission's inquiry into philanthropy and the Not-for-profit Sector Blueprint.

“When disaster strikes, it’s charities that Australians turn to.”

Andrew Leigh reiterates how the government declared ex-cyclone Alfred a disaster under tax law, for the purpose of establishing disaster relief funds.

“Labor policies heralded three years ago have been allowed to lag, practical initiatives are no-where to be seen and process has been dressed up as outcomes.”

Dean Smith on the lack of action from the government since its election in 2022.

“We’ve sent a clear signal that charitable advocacy is supported and welcomed by the Albanese government. Whether it’s arguing for us or whether it is critiquing the work that we do, the voices of charities are valued as an important contributor to the public debate by our government.”

Andrew Leigh defends the government's record on defending and enabling charitable advocacy.

“I’m wearing today my ‘I love evidence’ badge and most of you know I’m a bit of an evidence nerd.”

Andrew Leigh on the government’s commitment to the use of data in impact evaluation.

“If I were to wear a badge, it would say ‘I love action.”

Dean Smith explains his commitment to achieving positive outcomes for the charity and NFP sector over the past three years.

Leigh Andrew Smith Dean Instagram52 — Senator Dean Smith makes a point while Charities Minister Andrew Leigh waits for his turn to respond.

“It is no exaggeration to say that the nine years under the Coalition saw a war on charities.”

Andrew Leigh recaps controversial former Coalition government initiatives such as a promise to scrap the charities regulator.

“Our charities and not-for-profits are in many cases, literally keeping many people alive and while the Albanese government remains in power, they are doing it alone.”

Dean Smith calls out the vital role played by the sector amid the cost-of-living crisis.

“[It took] us back to case law from the 1600s as a way of managing charities.”

Andrew Leigh on what he said was the previous governments mindset toward the sector.

“I do not accept that reform has to take a long time.”

Dean Smith on the power to achieve incremental change.

“A measure akin to putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank.”

Andrew Leigh on the Coalition's controversial appointment of Gary Johns as head of the ACNC, which he said was seen by the sector at the time as a direct attack on charities.

“Frustratingly, these opportunities have largely been lost.”

Dean Smith laments the government’s failure to achieve sector reforms supported by the Coalition such as improving giving and cutting red tape.

“My challenge to Dean Smith is, will you admit that you got it wrong?”

Andrew Leigh posits that the former government’s approach to charities was too adversarial.

“In the absence of a record of achievement in the last three years, I think you’re right – ministerial roundtables sound rather shallow. But I am someone who drives outcomes.”

Dean Smith explains why his plan to hold sector roundtables if elected will produce results.

“Charities need more than a listening ear. They need a guarantee that there will not be backsliding if Peter Dutton were to become prime minister.”

Andrew Leigh casts doubt about the Oppositions commitment to supporting charitable advocacy.

“At best it represents refinement over transformation.”

Dean Smith on the Productivity Commission report into philanthropy.

Leigh Andrew Smith Dean Instagram67 — The National Press Club debate was conducted in a spirited, but respectful manner.

“I’m still bracing myself for the possibility that the Coalition will announce cuts to foreign aid as the then Abbott Opposition did in the final week before the 2013 election.”

Andrew Leigh responds to a question about the impact of US aid cuts across the world.

“I’m a runner so I’m always keen to get to the finish line quicker and on issues like charitable fundraising harmonisation [laws] I would love to see us moving at a quicker pace.”

Andrew Leigh on the slow pace of sector reform.

“My fear for the Not-for-profit Sector Blueprint … is that it sits there idle and nothing happens.”

Dean Smith on the need to take the Blueprint's recommendations seriously and act rapidly.

“To simply say the problem with the current government is process and [the Coalition will] have a couple of roundtables isn’t to announce the sort of clear, costed policies that Labor came forward with in 2022.”

Andrew Leigh questions the value of the Coalition's commitment to holding policy roundtables with the charity sector if elected in place of clear costed policies.

“I do find it strange to be sitting next to a member of the Coalition who is attacking a Coalition policy which we have done our level best to implement in a way that minimises the impact on the sector.”

Andrew Leigh after explaining the steps the government has taken to implement the NFP self-review requirement originally introduced by the Morrison government.

“This is now an issue of implementation and the implementation by the Australian Taxation Office has been appalling.”

Dean Smith on the ATO self-review rollout.

“I do need to sound a note of caution, which is to remind people that for all of the discussion about how fast we move forward on all these reforms that we are moving forward under our government. That’s not the way most charities felt things were going the last nine years under the Coalition. They felt the car was in reverse.”

Andrew Leigh makes the case that the Albanese government is committed to introducing charity sector reforms.