Watching Aid and Advocacy

Joan Staples

“Activists often look to colourful actions to draw attention to issues, and delivering a birthday cake must surely fall into this category. However, AID/WATCH, the small, non-government organisation (NGO) that monitors the quality of overseas aid, never expected that their ironic 60th birthday cake delivered to the World Bank asking it to retire would be described by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as unacceptable political activity and used against them.

However, in October 2006, an ATO decision removed ‘charitable’ status from the NGO. This is the status that allows donations to non-government organisations to be tax-deductible. AID/WATCH does not receive government or corporate support, and works on a budget of approximately $80,000 annually, so that donations are their life-blood, and tax-deductibility was important for their continued existence …”