Responding to Mark Latham's Report - Luke Batty Foundation

19th February, 2018

This is a very tragic situation indeed, and thank you Mark for your update. Personally, I couldn't agree more with the accountability of charities and am very saddened by the tragic situation that underpinned the creation of this foundation.

Equally I am concerned about your report and the questions your report now raises.

Where is our government, authorities and likewise, why is it the media would not raise these concerns? It appears that everyone is missing in action yet there is an ever increasing demand placed on our charities, as is the fundraising needed to support those charities and the community, including charities that I am personally associated with.

As we are all aware, lately there has been examples that have caused the public's confidence to be undermined, some of those are even mentioned in Marks story.

Another issue of concern is people fraudulently claiming a terminal illness and using that illness to mislead and deceive for their own personal benefit, as was the case with ex hockeyroo goal keeper Kate Hubble who pretended to have cancer and backed up her claims with forged medical certificates in order to defraud a cancer charity.

It time for all charities to have implemented a very strict and rigorous set of national standards with immediate and public suspension of their charitable status if they fail to comply.

Philip Couper

MORE: https://www.facebook.com/MarkLathamsOutsiders/posts/1850903698284294