Online Petition to Save ACNC
29 August 2013 at 1:52 pm
A Victorian and Tasmanian-based Christian Church welfare organisation has begun an online petition to try to save the national charity regulator, the ACNC, from the Coalition’s plans to dismantle it.
The Churches of Christ Community Care is a Not for Profit Public Benevolent Institution working in the relief of poverty, sickness and disability, working with local food agencies and disadvantaged young people.
The online GoPetition calls on the Liberal National Coalition to retain the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission in its current form for the benefit of the entire Not for Profit sector in Australia.
The Executive Director of Community Care Churches of Christ in Victoria and Tasmania, Paul Arnott says he was moved to organise the petition after the Opposition Spokesman Kevin Andrews announced that the Coalition would wind back the operations of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) if elected to Government on September 7.
“The ACNC has taken over many of the functions of ASIC and from my experience it is a vast improvement,” Arnott said.
“The Coalition plans to turn the ACNC into an advisory body with no teeth. This will kill the organisation.
“Currently it is working to lift levels of accountability and transparency and to reduce red tape in the sector. For example, from next year charities will not be required to submit annual financial statements as well as annual reports.
“I have worked in Not for Profits for almost 30 years and believe the emasculation of the ACNC would be a backwards step for all Australian NFP's,” he said.
A national survey initiated by Pro Bono Australia this month found that a significant majority of Australian Not for Profits support the ACNC in its current form.
