The coalition of peak bodies campaigning to fix state fundraising laws have welcomed the release of a Senate committee report into fundraising, but says it feels frustrated and concerned over a lack of decisive action on the issue.
The committee unanimously recommended the government provide a response to the six-month-old Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission review report, and work with states, territories and the NFP sector to develop a national model within two years.
The state-based regulations have been widely criticised as they were written pre-internet, and there are a different set of rules for every state, making it difficult for the charitable sector to comply with fundraising laws between states.
Wendy Scaife, director of the Australian Centre for Philanthropy Nonprofit Studies, said while she was pleased the committee had a clear understanding that current fundraising laws were holding the sector back, there was a sense of “deja-vu” from the findings.
“Whilst I think the senators grasped the issues well, I think that the need for action is paramount,” Scaife told Pro Bono News.
“These issues have been swirling around for decades, and nothing seems to be resolved.”
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