TodayTonight: Xenophon Gets Charities Inquiry

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Today Tonight: Australian Senate Inquiry Release Special - Bryan Seymour


ABC.NET.AU Bipartisan support for charities commission

A federal parliamentary committee has recommended the creation of a charities commission. The commission would ensure charitable and religious organisations were open and transparent. They would also need to be able to prove they deserved a charitable status.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has welcomed bipartisan support for the commission, saying organisations such as the Church of Scientology are on notice. "I believe reform is now inevitable. We can't continue to have business as usual when it comes to organisations that have been beyond any reasonable level of accountability," Mr Xenophon said. He believes reform in the sector is inevitable.

"This inquiry came about because of legislation I introduced for a public benefit test for religions and charities, and it was as a direct result of being approached by many victims of the Church of Scientology," he said,"Their evidence, their complaints played a key role in triggering this inquiry."