Halal Australia
How are the funds from halal certification used?
The service fees paid to Halal Australia for halal certification and accreditation are used to maintain the normal costs of running a registered business in Australia. These include overhead costs such as utilities, rent, inventory and supplies, and employee salaries, as well as income taxes paid to the Australian government. Inspection fees also include auditing services, which are undertaken to maintain quality control of the premises and products and which cover standard expenses such as service, transportation and travel time.
Halal Australia is proud to be an Australian business and in accordance with the Australian Government’s values statement has always undertaken to respect the values of Australian society and obey its laws. Halal certification profits DO NOT go towards supporting any terrorist activities or violent politically motivated religious organisations. Nor do we have anything to do with any organisation or group anywhere in the world that incites violence and are not aligned with our values of freedom, egalitarianism, equality of opportunity, and mutual respect and tolerance.
The pure and unaltered teachings of Islam as well as the tradition of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encourage a harmonious and peaceful way of life and forbid injustice or aggression against any living creature, whether animal or human being. Instead, we are taught to have respect for all – regardless of religious beliefs, race, or ethnicity.
Are Australian consumers who purchase halal certified goods paying a “Islamic” religious tax?
Consumers should be made aware that statements such as these are sensationalist rumours designed to incite fear amongst Australian consumers. Such statements are misleading and unequivocally incorrect.
Halal Australia has no power to enforce any tax, religious or otherwise, on the citizens of Australia under any circumstances. Companies that seek halal certification pay a flat fee that covers the cost of site accreditation and product certification and periodic audits as needed. These fees are in line with those that companies pay to have other elements of their business certified and audited each year to help meet the requirements of other dietary needs, such as organic, vegetarian and kosher, or to ensure compliance from a quality assurance (QMS) and food safety (HACCP) point of view. To the best of our knowledge, the fees paid by companies to have their products certified are not carried over to the consumer.
Does Halal certification benefit the Australian economy?
The additional income produced by a company that gains halal certification and accreditation belongs to the company (not Halal Australia) and contributes millions of dollars to the Australian economy every year – far more than anything that is paid for the certification itself. Having products halal certified also allows domestic businesses to expand their reach by giving them the opportunity to export products to international markets, giving these businesses a competitive advantage allowing for even greater benefit to the Australian economy.
In conclusion:
We unequivocally refute the rumours made against halal certification bodies by anti-halal campaigners, and invite the public to consider whether the anti-halal campaign is based on real facts or is simply a hate campaign that does not care much for facts at all. The lack of verified facts to support allegations therefore renders the very purpose for this campaign null and void. To understand the real underlying reasons (and hidden agendas) behind such campaigns, one should instead consider the role that anti-Muslim hatred plays in creating this fear and labelling everything that is identifiably linked to the Islamic faith as a conspiracy or threat.
We abide by the laws of this country and are proud to offer a service that allows the Australian economy to benefit substantially. Any claims to the contrary are false and only aim to disrupt efforts to maintain harmony and peace in the greater Australian society. It takes very little effort to spread false information on the internet, and much greater effort to verify information and consider the facts before coming to an informed conclusion. We hope you always choose the latter.
http://www.halal-australia.com.au/clarifying-misconceptions-about-halal/
