[Greens-Media] Media Release - Waubra Foundation loses status as health promotion charity

[Blyberg, Andrew (Sen R. Di Natale)]

Media Release
 
Dr Richard Di Natale
Greens Senator for Victoria
 
19/12/2014
 
Waubra Foundation loses status as health promotion charity
 
Australian Greens health spokesperson, Dr Richard Di Natale, said that stripping the Waubra Foundation of its status as a health promotion charity was a victory for public health and the scientific method.

"Common sense has finally prevailed," said Senator Di Natale, a former GP and public health specialist.

"The Waubra Foundation should never have been granted status as 'health promotion charity' and the fact that it has now lost that status is a victory for science and a victory for public health.

"There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that wind turbine syndrome exists and surely an organisation must do more than promote a made-up illness to be considered a 'health promotion charity'.

"Not only are the Waubra Foundation's claims without any scientific basis, there is evidence that they may actually be causing harm. Much like a placebo can lead to genuine health benefits, claiming that something is harmful can lead to real harms. 

"I lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commissioner 12 months ago because I care about all those people who are genuinely suffering symptoms as a result of these untruths.

"I'm glad that we will no longer be lending legitimacy to an organisation that may be harming people in an effort to undermine an important source of clean and renewable energy."

Media Contact - Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600