The national charity regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), has revoked the charity registrations of ANIA Holdings Limited and AN Ed Co Limited, following investigations into each charity.
Revocation of charity registration is reserved for the most serious compliance cases and revoked charities can no longer access Commonwealth Tax concessions.
ANIA Holdings Ltd was registered by the ACNC effective 1 July 2016, with the purpose of advancing social or public welfare, operating as a Public Benevolent Institution.
AN Ed Co Ltd was registered by the ACNC effective 5 October 2016, with the purpose of advancing education.
Investigations into both charities were completed on 17 December, with the decision to revoke their charity registrations effective from that date.
ACNC Assistant Commissioner Anna Longley said, “Revocation of charity status is the most serious action the ACNC can take.
“ANIA Holdings Ltd and AN Ed Co Ltd can no longer access Commonwealth charity tax concessions.”
Registered charities must report to the ACNC annually and meet the ACNC Governance Standards. They must also continue to be not-for-profit and have charitable purposes.
Ms Longley added: “We aim to work with charities to achieve compliance. However, when charities are unwilling to meet their obligations, or fail to demonstrate commitment to their governance, then we will take stronger action.”
The revocations are on the public record, but the ACNC is prevented from publishing the findings from those investigations, or discussing the nature of the concerns raised, due to secrecy provisions in the ACNC Act.
Ms Longley said that donors could ensure they were donating to registered charities by searching the ACNC Charity Register at acnc.gov.au/findacharity.
More information:
ACNC Charity Register
ACNC compliance decisions
Raise a concern about a charity
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Media contacts: ACNC media team on 0466 089 108 or email media@acnc.gov.au.
Notes to editors: Charities are notified of impending ACNC enforcement action and given opportunity to respond. The ACNC seeks to be as transparent as possible about its enforcement action, issuing a notification to media and publishing enforcement action on its website and the charity’s listing on the Charity Register.
However, the ACNC cannot disclose protected information, including the details of investigations.