The Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh, in welcome news for the sector has announced that agreement was reached between the Commonwealth, state and territory Treasurers late last year to install consistent fundraising rules across all states and territories. It is hoped that this could take effect within a year (although from experience this may be ambitious). Each participating jurisdiction will release an implementation plan by July 2023 explaining how it will give effect to the principles through regulatory changes or legislation. Importantly, Mr Leigh has said that regulatory guidance to support the principles will be developed in collaboration with the charitable fundraising sector.
The charitable sector has long been clamouring for consistent fundraising regulation throughout Australia and for it to be updated to take into account the online world. Finally, it appears some concrete progress may be happening.
A working group consisting of representatives from all states and territories has developed a set of principles to serve as a starting point for the process. Time will tell as to how this announcement plays out, but it appears that finally there may be light at the end of the tunnel to fix fundraising.