New Victorian Fundraising Legislation Becomes Law

New fundraising legislation to reduce ‘red tape’ for smaller charities, while cracking down on unscrupulous operators has been passed by the Victorian Parliament.

The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Ms Marsha Thomson, says the tough new laws will herald a new era in fundraising with the new measures expected to come into force from next year.

The changes include;
· A registration scheme for fundraisers which replaces the current
notification of appeals scheme. A register of approved fundraisers will be
publicly available on the web.

· The register may include information how much money raised through an appeal has been given to beneficiaries.

· Exemptions from registration by Ministerial Order. Small volunteer
organisations will be exempt if they raise less than $10,000 in a financial
year.
· Stronger enforcement powers to help prevent unscrupulous fundraising
and to protect consumers. The Minister for Consumer Affairs, or the Director of Consumer and Business Affairs Victoria now have the power to name disreputable fundraisers or those who are disreputable, who are not registered or whose fundraising practices are suspect.

· A provision enabling CBAV to force a registered fundraiser to
distribute a specific proportion of appeal assets to the appeal
beneficiaries.

· Consumer Affairs will now have the power to deregister a fundraiser
who is not fundraising in the public interest. This may occur in a
situation where their expenses are unjustifiably excessive.

The Minister says the Bracks Government is helping genuine charities cut through the red tape. The government wants all Victorians to know which fundraiser is receiving their money, so they can feel confident when donating. She says the new system will make fundraisers more transparent and publicly accountable.

The Minister says exempting smaller community fundraisers from registering will reduce the administrative burden placed upon them by previous legislation.