ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBIES AREN'T CHARITIES, JUST LIKE ORANGES AREN'T APPLES

Environmental groups and lobbies have every right to exist. It's a good they do, because if they didn't, industrialization and inappropriate development of various kinds would have already destroyed or at least desecrated the environment in a myriad amount of locations around Australia.


When they stick to political activism they serve a very vital role in highlighting the need to the general public for political action to stop or rein in inappropriate development, and accountability when this doesn't occur.


But when "some" use their "charity tax free status" to relentlessly and uncompromisingly obstruct development like the Galilee Basin Adani coal mine in the courts, time and time again, at their "bush lawyer's whim", they lose any right to claim to be a charity, and hence, attaining tax exempt status.


Most definitely the Charities and Not-for-profits Commission has to clamp down on any environmental group or lobby which is effectively abusing the system, and moonlighting as a charity, to bankroll excessive and spurious court action against any development, just for the sake of being obstructionist.