It’s hard to believe it has been nearly a year since I started as ACNC Commissioner. While I am as ready as anyone for a break, I am still pinching myself that I have the privilege of leading the ACNC. The team around me have shown commitment and worked hard during this time, and I thank them sincerely for this. And for their patience with a new Commissioner, with all her questions and new ideas!
Together we have been able to achieve some important things, working to be as fair and accountable as possible and treating those we regulate with integrity and respect, in line with our ACNC values.
We’ve published new guidance on crypto assets, advocacy during the referendum and have provided advice to charities and the public during significant humanitarian crises.
We’ve made changes to the Charity Register to make it easier to navigate and have improved our specialist guidance by updating the Commissioner’s Interpretation Statements on Health Promotion Charities and Public Benevolent Institutions.
We’ve published a Decision Impact Statement following the Equality Australia decision in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and we’ve released our Annual Report and the 9th edition of our Australian Charities Report.
We’ve consulted with the sector, met with stakeholders including local and international counterparts, spoken at keynote conferences and welcomed new members to our leadership team and Advisory Board.
We also had the exciting announcement that Federal, State and Territory governments had agreed to a set of national fundraising principles that will reduce red tape for charities. We will support the implementation of this critical reform.
As I look ahead to 2024 and beyond, important policy reforms are being discussed that have the potential to influence our work in key ways.
Top of my mind are the proposed changes to the ACNC’s secrecy provisions - which have just been tabled in parliament by the Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones. These reforms would allow the ACNC to make disclosures about new or ongoing investigations, where the disclosure would prevent or minimise the risk of significant harm.
The changes would mean that in situations where there are very serious allegations about a charity being reported widely in the media, I as ACNC Commissioner would have some ability to assure the public that we are looking into the matter. The reform will help us to assure charities and donors that we are acting on issues of public concern and strengthening compliance, which will boost public trust and confidence in the sector. Maintaining accountability, transparency and confidence in charities is a key focus for us, and it guides much of our work.
The other major policy agenda is the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into philanthropic giving, with their draft report released last week. There are various recommendations in that report that relate to the ACNC that will be considered in the coming months, before their final report in May 2024. Your charity might like to consider making a response to the draft report – it covers a wide range of matters beyond the ACNC including proposing reforms about which charities should be eligible for tax deductible status (DGR).
Thank you for the warm welcome I have received at the many events I have spoken at this year; for generously sharing your insights into what is happening on the ground so I can make sure the ACNC always has the broader context in mind.
Have a safe and restful summer break, with a special shoutout to all those charities and their volunteers who are working over this period.
Warm regards,
Sue Woodward AM