[Greens-Media] Greens Bill ensures protection for community groups

[Burmester, Tom]

Shane Rattenbury MLA
ACT Greens
 
26th August 2009				

Greens Bill ensures protection for community groups

The Assembly has today passed a second Bill from the ACT Greens.  The Associations Incorporation Amendment Bill 2009 ensures that personal addresses of those who volunteer on community groups in the ACT can be kept private should it be requested.

At present, people who volunteer for committee positions in community organisations need to list their addresses with the Registrar-General, and those addresses are available for any member of the public to view.

People who are on the committees of groups that deal with victims of domestic and sexual violence, women's shelters and other crisis centres are among the groups that have extremely compelling reasons why their residential addresses should not be publicly available.  

"Some people have been nervous about their addresses being available for public inspection as there have been examples in the past of people who have received threats as a result of the community work that they do,' said Mr Rattenbury, Greens Attorney General Spokesperson.

"It is unacceptable that people get threats as a result of their commitment to and involvement with groups that are often doing very important community work, but at the very least we can ensure their personal contact details are kept confidential" said Mr Rattenbury.

"This Bill requires the Registrar General to keep personal details confidential at the request of committee members, and we are pleased it has been passed in time for the AGM season for many community groups," said Mr Rattenbury.

"It may seem like a small procedural change to us, but it's an important change for those who might be fearful of their personal addresses being accessed by those with malign intent," Said Mr Rattenbury.

The Bill was supported by the Government and the Opposition in the Assembly today.

Media Contact - Tom Burmester 0423 657 561 
  
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