Summary - The Treasurer released a consultation
paper on charitable fundraising reform in February 2012.
The Treasury recently released a discussion paper and draft
regulation impact statement in relation to proposed charitable
fundraising reform. At the moment, all States and Territories in
Australia (except the Northern Territory) have their own
fundraising regulations and they have different requirements for
registration and compliance. The discussion paper proposes to
introduce standardised fundraising laws across Australia.
The kinds of "fundraising activity" subject to
regulation, as proposed by the paper, would encompass any activity
involving the solicitation or receipt of money or other property
primarily for a "charitable purpose". "Charitable
purpose" will be defined in accordance with the
upcoming statutory definition of "charity", currently
contemplated by the Commonwealth Government. The requirement for a
"charitable purpose" suggests that
