Review of the Incorporations Act
30 May 2005 at 1:05 pm
Victorian Not for Profits are being urged to have a say on a review of the administrative arrangements for incorporated associations.
Submissions on an Interim Report on incorporated associations, which is part of a Government review of the Associations Incorporation Act 1981, close on Friday, June 10.
The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Marsha Thomson says incorporated associations, such as sporting and social clubs, are the heart and soul of many communities, so how they are run and governed is an important issue.
Thomson has urged as many people as possible to have an input so that the legislation reflects community expectations and needs.
The Interim Report proposes a range of measures that are expected to ease the administrative burden on associations and limit the cost of compliance with the Act.
Thomson said most of the Interim Report’s proposals were sensible but she has already ruled out proceeding with recommendations 1 and 3 as described in the report.
Proposal 1 says “Insert a purpose clause in the Act, which states that the Act is designed to serve not for profit organisations that are small, voluntary, non-trading an membership based. Consequent changes should be made to the Act to support the purpose clause.”
Proposal 3 says “A transition period of five years should be put in place and in the first stage an assessment could be made of those organisations that have an annual income of$1 million or more.”
The Report makes 18 recommendations including dropping a requirement that all associations have to lodge annual statements and a requirement that all incorporated associations to maintain an asset register.
The Interim Report can be downloaded at the Consumer Affairs Victoria website at www.consumer.vic.gov.au. Submissions can also be emailed to aiareview@justice.vic.gov.au ; or by post to Associations Incorporation Act Review, Consumer Affairs Victoria, GPO Box 123A, Melbourne, 3001.
You can also obtain a copy of the Interim report by sending us an email with the words Review of Incorporations Act in the subject line to probono@probonoaustralia.com.au.
