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#FixFundraising is now a national priority

15 Dec 2020

In response to growing calls from leaders in the community and across the not-for-profit sector, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Senator Zed Seselja have today announced they are putting #FixFundraising on the national agenda.

We welcome today’s announcement that the Federal government will be putting fundraising law reform on the National Federation Reform Council (NFRC)’s agenda.

The Treasurer taking this leadership means charities, and the communities that rely on them, can have greater confidence that this integral piece of reform can be achieved during a time where it is needed the most.

What we know

The announcement promises a new cross-border recognition model to provide a single registration point for national charities and community organisations, which will reduce the costs and administrative burden for groups that operate across multiple states.

There was also an additional announcement focused on simplifying financial reporting requirements for charities. These changes will improve transparency by centralising registration and reporting through the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). This is a recommendation we’ve been advocating for over several years.

When will we see these reforms in action?

While a 2018 bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Charity Fundraising in the 21st Century called on government to demonstrate a commitment to achieve urgent reform and recommended government develop a consistent national model for regulating fundraising within two years, today the government has offered an additional 12-month timeframe to implement these latest reforms.

Why do we need to #FixFundraising?

If a charity or community group wants to raise money, they need to apply for a fundraising licence in every state or territory they raise money in. Before the internet, this may not have mattered, but in the days of online donations and crowdfunding, most fundraising is national.

Now, any charity or community organisation with a donate button on its website may need to comply with complicated and expensive requirements like posting an ad in the paper in Queensland, or getting a police check in WA. These regulations are wasting the vital resources of hundreds of charities across the country who would rather be using them to support the community.

So, what happens now?

We’re looking forward to collaborating with MPs and Senators to achieve a genuine, comprehensive national approach to fundraising in Australia.

You can join us in spreading the news by sharing our Facebook post.

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