http://www.canberratimes.com.au[*quote*]
Anti-vaccination group loses charity status
Date March 18, 2014 - 12:28PM
Nicole Hasham
State Politics reporter
A group that claims vaccinations cause autism, cancer and brain damage has surrendered its charity status after an official investigation found it was spreading incorrect information.
The O'Farrell government has urged people not to donate to the group, known as the Australian Vaccination-Skeptics Network, which critics say has raised nearly $2 million in the past seven years without performing any “charity”.But the group claims the charity licence was an administrative burden and it will continue to accept public money under a different banner.
Hospitality Minister George Souris announced on Tuesday that the AVN surrendered its registered charity status after an investigation by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing.
It follows long-running criticism that the group was flouting charity laws, which the office says seek to prevent “deception of members of the public who desire to support worthy causes”.
The probe sought advice from medical experts who questioned information on the group's website about the risks and benefits of vaccination.
The experts advised that information was incorrect, presented in a “very selective manner” and did not accurately reflect the status of scientific evidence on vaccines and immunisation programs.
OLGR says the group surrendered its authority to fundraise after being asked to show why it should continue to accept money as a charity.
But AVN president Greg Beattie said the move was unrelated to the investigation and would not affect the group's fundraising ability.
“If you look at any organisation, your local soccer club or macramé club, they can raise funds, there are no restrictions. They don't need a licence,” he said.
He said the group previously tried to surrender the charity licence because the effort of submitting returns had “been a drain”.
The investigation is the latest in a series of blows to the controversial group, which says the government and medical fraternity “exaggerate the safety and benefit profiles of vaccinations whilst downplaying their risks and true effectiveness”.
The group, previously known as the Australian Vaccination Network, was forced to change its name this month after the Administrative Decisions Tribunal found its original name was likely to mislead the public into thinking it provided comprehensive information about vaccination.
The Health Care Complaints Commissions is also investigating the group.
"Stop the AVN", a coalition of critics formed after the parents of a baby who died of whooping cough were targeted by the network, had previously called for the charity status to be revoked, partly due to irregularities in its financial statements.
Spokesman Ken McLeod said the charity status should never have been granted, and “they can still suck money out of the gullible; they can put an appeal up for donations at any time”.
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more:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/antivaccination-group-loses-charity-status-20140318-34z9c.htmlNow the O'Farrell government should do its best to find out about the vanished millions!
But, interestingly, the vanished money impresses politicians more than dead toddlers. We got to work on that.
