Following an investigation, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), the national charity regulator, has revoked the charity registration of Vegan Rising.
Vegan Rising was registered by the ACNC effective 10 September 2017, with the purpose of preventing or relieving the suffering of animals.
The investigation into the charity was completed on 17 December 2019, with the decision to revoke charity registration effective from that date.
ACNC Commissioner the Hon Dr Gary Johns said revocation of a charity’s registration was reserved for the most serious of cases.
“Our approach to regulation focuses on education and guidance first. However, when charities are unwilling to comply with their obligations, or fail to demonstrate commitment to their governance, then we will take stronger action.”
“Revocation of charity registration is the most serious action the ACNC can take.”
“Without its charity registration, Vegan Rising can no longer access Commonwealth charity tax concessions,” he said.
Dr Johns urged donors to ensure they are donating to registered charities by checking the Charity Register at acnc.gov.au/findacharity.
“The ACNC must ensure the public knows when charities are not meeting their obligations,” he said.
To maintain their registration, 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.
Although the revocation is displayed on the Charity Register, the ACNC is prevented from publishing the findings from the investigation, or the nature of the concerns raised, due to secrecy provisions in the ACNC Act.
The ACNC encourages people who are concerned about a registered charity’s conduct to raise their concerns with the ACNC.
More information:
- ACNC Charity Register
- Vegan Rising Charity Register listing
- 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.
We recognise that information about our investigations into charities is often of interest to the public and that disclosing it may improve compliance by deterring charities from repeating the mistakes of others.
However, we can only disclose information about the ACNC’s compliance activities when we are legally able to do so. We cannot disclose protected ACNC information, including the detailed findings of an investigation that led to a charity's registration being revoked.
Charities can talk publicly about enforcement actions against them, if they choose to do so.