ACNC Revokes Charity Status of Queensland Not for Profit
29 January 2015 at 6:19 pm
The national charity regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), has revoked the charity status of a Queensland-based Not for Profit.
The ACNC says the Foundation of Public Safety Professionals is an unincorporated entity which benefitted from deductible gift recipient status as well as tax concessions for GST, income tax and fringe benefit tax.
“As the Assistant Commissioner and General Counsel of the ACNC I have made a decision to revoke Foundation of Public Safety Professionals’ registration as a charity under section 35-10 (1)(c) of the ACNC Act,” Assistant Commissioner Murray Baird said.
“This charity has existed since February 2007 but was transferred from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to the ACNC when the ACNC was established on 3 December 2012.
“It is our view that this organisation is no longer entitled to registration as a charity, and the revocation takes effect from 3 December 2012, the date of the establishment of the ACNC.”
The ACNC says the Foundation of Public Safety Professionals’ details will remain on the ACNC Charity Register but will be marked as ‘Revoked’ to alert members of the public that it is no longer a registered charity.
According to the ACNC, the Foundation did not meet any of its reporting obligations.
“I encourage members of the public to always search the Charity Register to ensure they are giving their time and money to legitimate registered charities,” Baird said.
“Members of the public and charitable sector can rest assured that we will continue to revoke the status of those organisations which we believe are not operating in accordance with the ACNC Act and the ACNC governance standards.”
The ACNC said it has received over 1,000 complaints against charities since it was established over two years ago. It has a range of powers in its Act including the power to revoke a charity’s registration.
The Foundation now has 60 days to apply for an internal review of the decision.
Pro Bono Australia News could not contact the organisation for comment but a description of the former charity on a directory website described the work they do.
"The Foundation of Public Safety Professionals is a non-profit organization set up by emergency personnel around the world," the blurb said.
"Our aim is inform individuals of public safety by distributing a family safety plan into every home. We believe that by sitting down every three months for 30 minutes and discussing family safety can save lives. Alongside disaster preparedness, the foundation provides grants and funding to emergency services around the world."
