Report on Centre for Excellence Delayed
18 December 2014 at 4:35 pm
The Federal Government has withheld the release of an independent report recommending plans for a new Civil Society National Centre for Excellence despite receiving final recommendations on a preferred model months ago.
The Centre for Social Impact was commissioned by the Federal Government in June 2014 to develop a preferred model for a National Centre for Excellence – originally earmarked as a replacement for the charity regulator, the ACNC.
An interim report in July suggested three proposed models for the Government and the sector to consider, however CSI has confirmed that it delivered its final recommendation to the Federal Government three months ago.
Centre for Social Impact CEO Andrew Young says he has been actively pursuing permission to publicly release the report.
“I can confirm that the report includes a specific recommendation that the future of the ACNC and that future of an national Centre for Excellence not be dependent on each other,” Young said.
“In fact, this issue was raised by many of those who took part in our extensive consultation process including, Productivity Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald.
“I can’t see a reason why the report can’t be released for public discussion. It’s not in the Government’s interests not to have this report, which has been produced by an independent authority, in the public domain.”
Young said CSI consulted with more than 500 people and they are all keen to see the outcome.
“Releasing the report to the public does not mean the Government has to make a formal response until it is ready.”
When the report was commissioned, Andrew Young said “The task of the Centre for Social Impact is to propose models for the Centre for Excellence that will be relevant to the landscape in Australia and that include functions that fill existing gaps in support for civil society.”
“The Centre for Social Impact will use its academic and applied research expertise to look at best practice Australian and international support for civil society organisations.”
A spokesperson for the Federal Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews said: “The Civil Society National Centre for Excellence Report will be released in the near future.”
