Charities Commission will continue – a welcome announcement for all Australians - 4 March 2016

Tim Costello (CCA Chair) and David Crosbie (CCA CEO) have joined many across the charities sector in welcoming today’s announcement from Ministers Porter and O’Dwyer that the government will support the continuation of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC).  Previously the government has said it would disband the ACNC.

Tim Costello, Chair of CCA and CEO of World Vision said, ‘this is a very pleasing announcement.  The lack of certainty about the future of the ACNC has been a major issue within the sector and across governments.  The ACNC and the charities sector will now be able to better plan for their future and devote more time and energy to doing what they do well, serving our communities.’

Cassandra Goldie, ACOSS CEO said, ‘community sector organisations have been asking for this announcement now for several years.  It is encouraging that the Turnbull government is listening and have reacted to what the sector has been saying.  This decision will benefit all Australian communities through a better regulated and supported charities sector.’

CEO of Philanthropy Australia, Sarah Davies, said that this is a fantastic decision, 'we commend the Australian Government for the way it has listened to sector voices on this issue, and also acknowledge the important role that the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership played in securing this outcome.  A well-regulated charities sector is important for funders as well as the wider community, and the ACNC has been working hard to deliver on that objective. We also need better data about philanthropy as well as charities more broadly, and the ACNC is the way were going to get that so it’s great that it’s here to stay.'

David Crosbie said ‘this announcement is about the voice of the charities sector growing louder in recent years, and the government is starting to listen.  Ministers Porter, Morrison and O’Dwyer are to be commended for responding to sector concerns and supporting this change in government policy.  The ACNC can now get on with better serving the charities sector and the community through its invaluable work; registering and maintaining a national listing of Australian charities, cutting red tape, investigating rogue charities, and ensuring charities can fulfill their purpose.’

Marc Purcell, CEO of the Australian Council for International Development, the peak body for Australia’s international aid agencies said; ‘we welcome the Government’s announcement. It is in the public interest to have a national regulator oversighting the integrity of charities. Secondly it is in the interests of charities to have a dedicated authority supporting the effectiveness of their work to benefit communities.’