Ancient law threatens freedom of speech

Organisations that speak out against government policy could face action from bodies such as the Tax Office, writes Elizabeth O\u27Shea in the National Times THE HIGH COURT of Australia will this week hear a case about freedom of speech and the role of public watchdogs. It is a case, somewhat surprisingly, about tax law, but in a modern capitalist society, this means it is very much about our understanding of democracy. In fact, the outcome will affect Australians\u27 understanding of freedom of speech, the role of government and the nature of political activism. The case is about Aid/Watch, a small non-government organisation founded in 1993. Aid/Watch researches, monitors and campaigns about overseas aid programs run by the Australian government. Its object is to promote the effectiveness of aid, from a developmental perspective and by ensuring the aid is environmentally friendly. Aid/Watch was fully endorsed as a charitable institution for tax purposes. But in 2006, the Australian Taxation Office withdrew this endorsement because... Read the full article Illustration: Joyner/ Fairfax &nbsp