Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

The lack of an independent regulator focused on charities and the specific needs and characteristics of the sector has been a hindrance to delivering a national approach to NFP regulation. The government has made a decision to establish a regulator at the Commonwealth level and to provide a platform to deliver harmonising and consistent regulation of charities across Australia. The government is working collaboratively with the states and territories through the NFP Reform Working Group, established under the Council of Australian Governments. I am advised that the South Australian government earlier this month announced that that state will make amendments to its incorporated associations and charitable collections legislation to harmonise reporting requirements and authorise charities to collect charitable donations in South Australia once they are formally registered with the commission. We welcome South Australia's leadership in this regard and look forward to working with other states and territories to deliver similar reform outcomes across Australia. I understand that is also the position that has been expressed by quite a number of entities within the NFP sector.