The ‘GetUp Clause’ devised to attack our independence …

In a shocking abuse of power, the Turnbull Government’s just introduced a ‘GetUp Clause’ devised to attack our independence.1

First Eric Abetz and the Hard Right pushed a twisted government investigation — threatening criminal penalties — to force GetUp to become an “associated entity” of Labor and the Greens.2 But we’re clearly winning the legal fight to protect your independent place in our democracy.

So now the Turnbull Government is trying to pervert the law, with a new clause that twists the definition of an “associated entity”, to specifically target the actions of GetUp members.3

They are striking at the very heart of the idea that everyday people have a place in our democracy outside of party politics.

Worse yet, their sinister legislation attacks civil society organisations who advocate for children, homeless people and our environment – while locking-in the ability of multinational corporations like Adani to flood our democracy with cash.4

The full scale assault on civil society we feared is here — with an entire Government trying to take us down. But it’s the fight GetUp members were born to win.

We’ll need experts and lawyers picking this legislation apart, an ad campaign exposing this for the fraud it is, and a fighting fund to defeat its worst elements in the Senate. That means resources not just for today or tomorrow – but for the long haul, until this fight is won.

Can you join the GetUp Crew today by making a regular, weekly contribution for our ‘civil defence fund’?

Together we’re fighting the third attempt by Eric Abetz and the Hard Right to have the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) declare us an “associated entity”, with potential criminal consequences.5

But the strength of GetUp members’ response, from letters to the editor flooding the papers, to a fully funded legal team, showed them what they’re up against. So now the Turnbull Government is abusing its power to change the rules.

And they’re not just targeting GetUp, either. Under the pretence of ‘banning foreign donations’, they are debilitating the political activity of our allies in the environment movement standing up for our Reef, while letting corporations like Adani line our politicians’ pockets.6

They’re also stifling the voice of those advocating for the homeless and children in poverty – while making sure colossal corporate tax cheaters, like Exxon and Chevron, can still pollute our politics with their corporate cash.

Together, we’re strong enough to overcome this threat, but we need hundreds more people stepping up to join the GetUp Crew. Will you help fund the defence of civil society?

Join the GetUp Crew with a regular weekly donation to fight the targeted attacks on civil society?

We now know this government’s attack on civil society is not a one-off. It will keep coming and we have to be ready.

Regular funding provided by the GetUp Crew means we have the resources to plan for the long term fight. And it means we’re ready and able to respond to new, sudden attacks on GetUp members or our friends and allies. Here’s what your regular contribution could make possible:

• Electoral law experts and lawyers who can pick this law apart for all its faults and write reports exposing it as a fraud

• An ad campaign exposing how this law is a way to empower the government’s multinational mates while silencing their civil society critics

• Potential legal challenges on limitations to political communication

• A knock-down, drag-out political fight to get this law’s worst elements stopped cold in the Senate, like we’ve done before
None of this can happen without your ongoing support to defend a thriving democracy for everyday Australians.

Join the GetUp Crew with a regular weekly donation to defend our thriving democracy.

From marriage equality to stopping a $1 billion bailout to reef-wrecking, mining giant Adani, our people powered movement is winning. Through our collective courage, we’re starting to build the more fair, flourishing and just Australia we want to see.

That’s why the Hard Right is stopping at nothing to take us down — using the full power of government to pervert the law to their own ends.

Let’s show them the true strength of people-powered action. Let’s win this fight for our right to have a voice in our democracy: Join the GetUp Crew today.

Together, we will overcome.
Paul for the GetUp team

References:

[1] Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017, Section 287H, 7 December 2017
[2] GetUp! readies for court battle over bid to link it to Labor and the Greens, Sydney Morning Herald, 23 October 2017
[3] Getting GetUp!: Foreign influence laws target crowdfunded activist, The New Daily, 7 December 2017
[4] ‘Chilling effect’: Charities slam foreign donations ban, Sydney Morning Herald, 5 December 2017
[5] GetUp: Activist group in fight with Australian Electoral Commission over funding disclosure rules, 23 October 2017
[6] Ban on foreign political donations is both too broad and too narrow, and won’t fix our system, 7 December 2017
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