ACOSS to Join NFP Reform Council

ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie is amongst the successful nominations for the Federal Government's newly announced Not for Profit Reform Council.

Dr Goldie says ACOSS has strongly promoted the current priorities for sector reform by the Government and she is looking forward to working with the Council to see these reforms take shape.

Above: ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie

The Government has signalled that the Reform Council will provide expert advice in relation to the reforms to the Not for Profit sector, including those recommended by the Productivity Commission in its key study into the contribution of the sector released earlier this year.

Dr Goldie says ACOSS nominated for the Council to ensure that advice to the Government reform will be informed by the almost 3000 members of the network of Councils of Social Service across the country. ACOSS members Anglicare and Catholic Social Services Australia have also been successful in their nominations.

The council will be chaired by Linda Lavarch from the Australian Centre of Philanthropic and Nonprofit studies and will include a list of eminent figures from the Not for Profit sector.

The Minister for Social Inclusion Tanya Plibersek says the creation of the council fulfils an important election promise and demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to the Not for Profit sector.

The Minister says the council will help drive the government's plans to reform the sector including cutting red tape which will free up resources and assist Not for Profits do what they do best — help people.

Full membership of the council includes: 

• Linda Lavarch – Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies
• Anne Robinson – Prolegis Lawyers
• Glenn Appleyard – Australian Accounting Standards Board
• Ken Baker – National Disability Services 
• Sandy Blackburn-Wright – Westpac, Community Development 
• Kasy Chambers – Anglicare
• Michael Coleman – KPMG
• David Crosbie – Community Council for Australia
• Cassandra Goldie – Australian Council of Social Service
• Suzie Hazlehurst – Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation
• Evelyn O’Loughlin – Volunteering SA and NT
• Frank Quinlan – Catholic Social Services Australia

Minister Plibersek says the council will examine the scope of a national one-stop-shop regulator, provide advice on streamlining tendering and contracting processes for government funded Not for Profit and consider harmonization of federal, state and territory laws on fundraising.

Plibersek made the announcement as she launched the book ‘Modernising Charity Law – Recent directions and future developments’ edited by Professor Myles McGregor Lowndes and Professor Kerry O’Halloran, also of the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit studies.

Minister Plibersek said the book presented new ideas which will inform the government's plans to reform the sector.

She says the government recognises both the social and economic contribution the Not for Profit sector makes to the community, dedicating countless hours to helping disadvantaged and vulnerable people across Australia.

Plibersek says data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics identified 59,000 economically significant Not for Profit organisations which contribute nearly $43 billion to Australia’s gross domestic product each year.

She says as professors Lowndes and O'Halloran point out, regulatory reform of the Not for Profit sector has not kept pace with the situation on the ground and the government is determined to change this and their research and insights will be an invaluable resource as the government progresses significant and much needed reform.