A charity run by an anti-vaccine activist who wrote a children’s book promoting measles has had its charitable status revoked by the federal regulator.
Stephanie Messenger runs the organisation Get Rid of Sids and organised the proposed Australian tour – which was subsequently cancelled – of Sherri Tenpenny, an American osteopath and immunisation critic.
Get Rid of Sids, based in Alexandra Hills outside Brisbane, was granted charitable status in 2010. It promotes a theory that toxic gas emitted from mattress covers is responsible for babies dying from sudden infant death syndrome (Sids).
The National Sids Council of Australia has said that “rigorously conducted, scientifically based research has concluded that there is no evidence to support the link between wrapping mattresses and the prevention of Sids”.
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) said on Wednesday the charitable status of Get Rid of Sids had been revoked “following a review into the organisation’s operations and activities”.
The ACNC was unable to disclose details of the case, but its acting commissioner, David Locke, said the regulator was “committed to protecting public trust and confidence in the sector, which includes revoking the charity status of organisations which are not operating in accordance with the ACNC act and regulations”.
“Where concerns are raised with the ACNC about a charity’s operations, we take these seriously and look into all of the circumstances. We will act firmly and quickly where we believe organisations are not entitled to ongoing charity registration,” he said.
Get Rid of Sids has lost its deductible gift recipient status and other tax concessions as a result of the ruling.
According to its most recent annual report, Get Rid of Sids had no employees and had conducted no activities in the past financial year.
Get Rid of Sids was listed as one of the groups behind Tenpenny’s tour, which was cancelled after an outcry from public health groups and difficulties securing venues.
Messenger’s self-published book Melanie’s Marvellous Measles promotes “the benefits of having measles and how you can heal from them naturally and successfully”.
Messenger published two more children’s books this year, which she has asked her followers to buy to help recover the costs of Tenpenny’s failed tour.
“If everyone just purchased one of my books, imagine how quickly I can be out of debt for the cancelled Dr Sherri Tenpenny tour,” she said in an email.
Messenger could not be reached for comment.
A further 8,400 registered charities that have failed to lodge annual reports in the past two years are at risk of having their charitable status revoked by the federal regulator.