ACNC Releases Taskforce Implementation Report
12 June 2012 at 12:08 pm
Australia's first charity regulator has released its ACNC Taskforce Implementation Report setting out details of the new registration process and updating information on the introduction of a "charity passport".
The ACNC says that for the first time an online register will contain information about a charity's purposes, activities, governance and finances for the public to access. Some of the information collected at registration will be displayed through the searchable register and information portal.
Over time, existing charities will be able to provide additional information about their entity and some of this information will appear in the register.
"This transparency is important to maintain confidence in the sector and provide information that reflects the critical role charities play in the economy and the lives of Australians," said Susan Pascoe in her first act as nominee Commissioner for the ACNC.
"Donors will be able to use the register information to make informed choices about charitable giving and volunteering. Researchers can access a rich resource of sector information for study and analysis and the register will provide information that is useful to Australian governments in the development of public policy.
"Charities can use the register to attract support for their goals and activities, and in this way further develop trust and confidence in themselves and the sector.”
Pascoe said the report is the culmination of twelve months work and will outline the implementation process for the establishment of the ACNC.
The report outlines five key action areas that will underpin the ACNC's functions:
- registering entities
- developing a reporting framework (report-once, use-often)
- going online (one-stop shop)
- helping charities and the public (guidance and education)
- engaging with stakeholders
The ACNC's Implementation Report said it will continue its work to develop and implement the charity passport. The charity passport is a set of data the ACNC will collect under registration and reporting requirements so that charities will only have to report that data once. It is understood this reporting will meet the baseline corporate and financial reporting requirements of Commonwealth government agencies.
The charity passport will be electronically available to authorised Commonwealth government agencies through the ACNC information portal.
The ACNC says the charity passport will only be provided to authorised Government agencies to assist in red tape reduction due to the confidential nature of some of the information, such as bank account details.
The ACNC said the Charity Passport will:
- contain data from a variety of sources including registration details, annual reporting, certain data on existing charities sourced from the ATO on 1 October 2012 (see Chapter 2), and other documents lodged with the ACNC
- provide for standardised data that charities report once to the ACNC to meet the reporting requirements of other Commonwealth Government agencies
- be confidential and provided only to authorised government agencies, on a need-to-know basis
- be grouped as a passport of information and passed electronically to Commonwealth departments through the ACNC information portal
The ACNC says it will work with agencies towards national adoption of the charity passport.
"The ACNC Taskforce continues to look forward to working with all stakeholders, large and small, community and government, private and public to create a world class regulator for the NFP sector," Pascoe said.
Up to the minute information on the establishment of the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission is now available on the ACNC Taskforce website and Facebook page.
