Media Release: Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission (ACNC) Passes the Senate
Published on November 1, 2012
Mark Butler MP
Minister for Social Inclusion
Joint Media Release
Legislation to establish the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has passed the Senate.
Amendments moved in the Senate will now go back to the House of Representatives for a final vote.
“This is a historic day for Australia’s hard-working charities and NFP sector,” said Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury.
“This is about cutting down on red tape for charities and supporting public confidence in the sector.
Minster for Social Inclusion Mark Butler said the Government wants to support and sustain a vibrant, independent and innovative NFP sector.
“The NFP sector has made it clear that they want an independent regulator, with a greater focus on the needs of the sector. The ACNC will be that independent and dedicated regulator.”
“Cutting down the regulatory burden for NFPs lets them get on with what they do best – supporting the most vulnerable members of our community.”
After numerous reviews and reports, more than 12 months of extensive consultation and stakeholder engagement, and three Parliamentary Committee inquiries into the legislation, the ACNC will finally begin operation in early December.
The new national regulator will drive reform to reduce the regulatory burden on the sector. At the Commonwealth level, the ACNC will administer a ‘charity passport’ and work to implement a ‘report-once, use-often reporting framework’.
The charity passport is a collection of data that charities will report once to the ACNC to meet the baseline corporate and financial reporting requirements of Australian Government agencies, and will be a vital component of how the ACNC will be able to deliver reductions in red tape.
The ACNC will also drive a national approach to NFP regulation, with South Australia already announcing it will make amendments to its incorporated associations and charitable collections legislation to harmonise reporting requirements.
The start date for the ACNC will be announced in the coming weeks.
31 October 2012
Media contact: Justin Koek 0400 126 939 (Assistant Treasurer)
Tim O’Halloran 0409 059 617 (Minister Butler)