
‘The for-purpose sector is heralding the appointment of Susan Woodward AM as the new commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) as proof the war on charities may be over.’ Pro Bono news cartoon.
Today’s Pro Bono news website cartoon. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has been under threat of closure by the government for many months. Social Services Minister Scott Morrison almost conceded that it will not be abolished (Morrison fudged ACNC announcement). The situation presents a great challenge to new Prime Minister Turnbull (Turnbull does not mean easy ride for Social Sector).
In the lead up to the G20 meeting of Global leaders in Brisbane Australian Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews has declared that ‘We must continue efforts to combat corruption which is one of the greatest barriers to global growth’ (more in the Pro Bono News post here), while persisting with the government’s ‘promise’ to make a bonfire of pesky red and green tape – including the independent charities and not-for-profits regulator ACNC. Not considering that a lot of pesky red and green tape helps keep many organisations on the straight and narrow (see this post, ‘…there are powerful groups… that do not want the scrutiny of an independent body…’). Here is my Pro Bono News cartoon take on things.
‘Prime Minister Tony Abbott has placed the abolition of the charity regulator, the ACNC (Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission) on the top of his repeal day hit list describing the process as the biggest bonfire of regulations in the country’s history’ writes the Pro Bono news website post ACNC In Repeal Day Bonfire. Social Services minister Kevin Andrews has introduced a Two-stage Plan to Abolish ACNC, removing ‘unnecessary regulatory control’ and directing the sector to ‘self-manage’.
9500 other ‘unproductive regulations’ are also to be abolished. Hey, who needs government?
Here is today’s Pro Bono News cartoon.
The not-for-profit sector is set to do it tough under our new conservative government. The government has said it will abolish the charities regulator (ACNC), and the minister in charge of the new Disability Care (NDIS) is not in the cabinet. Read more here.
On the bright side, the UN World Happiness Report has ranked Australia in 10th place. Read the Pro Bono article here.