Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 72, standing in my name and in the name of Senator Murray for today, relating to the disclosure of information by charities, as circulated in the chamber.

Leave granted.

I, and also on behalf of Senator Murray, move the motion as amended:

(1)

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the report by CHOICE on charities, published online in March 2008, that highlights the wide variability and inconsistency in the way that charities disclose information to the public; and

(b)

acknowledges that the 27 recommendations from the inquiry into the definition of charities and related organisations, which reported in 2001, have not been implemented.

(2)

The following matters be referred to the Economics Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in November 2008:

(a)

to investigate the relevance and appropriateness of current disclosure regimes for charities and all other not-for-profit organisations;

(b)

to identify models of regulation and legal forms that would improve governance and management of charities and not-for-profit organisations and cater for emerging social enterprises; and

(c)

to identify other measures that can be taken by government and the not-for-profit sector to assist the sector to improve governance, standards, accountability and transparency in its use of public including government funds.

Question put.

Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—It appears that the communication I thought had taken place between my office and the opposition did not. I do not want to speak for the opposition, but it is my understanding that there is a possibility that this motion may be able to be revisited in June, which I intend to do.