Australian Treasurer cuts red tape for charities

• Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has slashed the red tape surrounding charity registration following the royal commission into bushfires
• The inquiry found charities and not-for-profits were essential in helping rebuild communities affected by a natural disaster
• However, it also noted many of those much-needed organisation faced unnecessarily complex paths to be approved by regulators
• The Treasurer has now struck a deal with state and territory leaders to create a single point of registration across Australia
• It’s estimated the changes will save charities around $13 million each year

Charities and not-for-profits which run fundraisers will no longer have to register in every state and territory across Australia.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has slashed the red tape surrounding charity registration following on from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.

We’re easing the regulatory burden on Aust charities hard hit by #COVID, under an agreement signed by all Fed, state & territory treasurers.

This will help ensure charities can dedicate their time & resources supporting our community. @ZedSeselja

More👉https://t.co/sJ8XF8uEcb pic.twitter.com/QRg2DH3rco

— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) December 14, 2020

The inquiry, which was established earlier this year in response to the devastating bushfires across Australia’s east coast, found that charities which fundraise were essential to rebuilding affected communities.

It also noted that many of these much-needed organisations faced unnecessarily complex paths to be approved to fundraise, as they had to register as a charity in every Australian state and territory.

The Treasurer has now promised to cut that red tape by signing an agreement with federal, state and territory leaders to ensure charities looking to fundraise only have to register with one, single entity.

He estimated the complex system had been costing not-for-profits millions of dollars each year.

“The inconsistent and outdated regulations across jurisdictions create an estimated regulatory burden of $13.3 million a year for the charitable fundraising sector,” Josh Frydenberg said in a statement.

“The Morrison Government will continue to work with the states and territories to reduce the administrative and financial burdens on charities ensuring they can dedicate their time and resources to assisting vulnerable communities and giving Australians confidence that their donations are directly contributing to assisting those in need,” he added.