Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to speak to this motion and I commend the member for Fenner for highlighting the charities sector, which is often on the front line for the vulnerable in our communities. Charities are very close to my heart as I've had the privilege to contribute in one way or another ever since my childhood. I've also had the honour of establishing a charity called Zoe Support Australia, which assists young mothers in my home town of Mildura to access and complete education and gain employment. I know how challenging the process of setting up a charity is. Transitioning from a good idea, even when it's based on research, to pragmatic outcomes can be confounded by red tape and legalities. Obviously, risk must be managed. Problematically, there is a truism that you cannot legislate goodwill; however, the legislative and policy framework has now evolved to a point where charity work is fundamentally strangled by red tape.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, ACNC, was set up to simplify and clarify regulatory requirements, with a good dose of transparency thrown in. Fundraising is one area where the ACNC has the regulatory apparatus to hold charities to account, but the doubling up of this process at the state and territory level is unnecessarily bureaucratic. I welcome the leadership of New South Wales on harmonisation of the cross-jurisdictional governing of this sector. COVID-19 has provided an opportunity to consider many bureaucratic processes in a new way, leading to some excellent reform. The expansion of telehealth medical services is one such example. There's been some evidence over the last eight months of the need for cross-border jurisdictional reform. Imagine if the states had taken a national approach to hotspot definition and management, for example. In the same way, we need reform of charity fundraising to reduce red tape and cost.

One local charity in my home town of Mildura is Sunraysia Residential Services, led by the entrepreneurial CEO, Marian Luehman. She has taken fundraising to a whole new level. SRS provides residential and wraparound support for clients who live with a disability. Every dollar donated to SRS goes back 100 per cent into the community and stays in Sunraysia. SRS does not take out administrative charges and ensures that all fundraising and donations provide direct benefit to people with disabilities and their families. SRS has been in operation for 43 years, providing support for Sunraysia's ageing and disability population. SRS is 100 per cent locally owned and operated, with no subsidiaries throughout the state or nationally. SRS has built many independent living units, which have provided leverage to build more. It has commercial enterprises, such as the Benetook chook farm, and yesterday I attended the opening of their new Benetook general store. It was great to talk with local market holders and small businesses who have unfortunately had to close their businesses due to COVID restrictions and so have brought their product to the Benetook general store.

The wonderful aspect of this fundraising project is that clients can also participate meaningfully, showing their own artwork. SRS clients sell it on site, just as they are involved in the chook farm business, collecting eggs and learning marketing skills. Such innovation is not common in all charities. Indeed, the reality is that many agencies are generally working flat out just to provide services to their clients. Ideally fund-raising is holistically beneficial to meet its anticipated outcomes to make money as well serve clients. One thing is for sure: it should not be mired by red tape. This government is working to ensure this changes.

Another charity I providentially I bumped into yesterday was the Sunraysia Men's Shed group. They were flipping sausages in front of the local supermarket to raise funds for their activities. They told me they were being contacted by two to three new men each week inquiring to join the men's shed since COVID. Men's sheds achieve critical objectives, two of which are to give men the opportunity to connect with each other and to give back to local communities.

Another reason I'm inspired to meet with charities is because of their voluntary staff. They are often people who bring a wealth of skills and experience who choose to invest back into their local community. As International Volunteer Day is this week, I want to add my thanks to each and every person who so generously supports our charities.

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