The #FIXFUNDRAISING coalition welcomes the recommendation tabled in the Parliament today to reform fundraising laws through the use of the Australian Consumer Law.
The Report of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Legislation Review 2018 has concluded the ‘most appropriate mechanism’ to reform fundraising is through the use of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) supported by a mandatory Code of Conduct.
It has also stated that in the absence of reform “the sector will continue to be subject to an unacceptable level of unnecessary red tape”.
The recommendation to reform fundraising through the use of the ACL and an associated mandatory Code of Conduct is the solution proposed by the #fixfundraising coalition. This solution is increasingly supported and by more than half of the submissions to the current Senate Select Committee on Charitable Fundraising in the 21st Century with every single submission calling for fundraising reform.
The Report states further “The Commonwealth Government has an opportunity to reduce red tape for the sector by taking a leadership role in working with State and Territory governments to harmonise fundraising laws”. This opportunity is only days away – at the forthcoming meeting of Consumer Affairs Ministers.
It was only this week the #fixfundraising coalition called, again, on these Ministers at their meeting on 30-31 August 2018 to adopt the #fixfundraising proposal (the ACL supported by a mandatory Code of Conduct) and to set out steps to a reform process.
The time to #fixfundraising was yesterday.
#FixFundraising coalition members include:
- Australian Council of Social Service
- Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Chartered Accountants of Australia & New Zealand
- Community Council for Australia
- Governance Institute of Australia
- Justice Connect
- Philanthropy Australia
- Public Fundraising Regulatory Association