Contribution of the Not for Profit Sector
VCOSS invites you to a forum where Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald will present an overview of the Productivity Commission’s draft report on the Contribution of the Not for Profit Sector. This forum also provides an opportunity for you to provide your feedback on the draft recommendations to the Commission.
Date: Tuesday 24 November
Time: 9.30 for a 10am start – 12.30 pm
Venue: Waratah Room (Level 1), St Michael’s Uniting Church Administration Building, 120 Collins Street Melbourne.
RSVP: Please confirm your attendance on E: vcoss@vcoss.org.au or T: 9654 5050 by 19 November, light refreshments will be provided.
We are developing an agenda for the forum which will be finalised shortly.
The Productivity Commission released its draft report on14 October. The report makes a number of draft recommendations according to the following themes:
- Building a better knowledge base;
- Smarter regulation of the NFP sector;
- Realising funding opportunities for the sector;
- Facilitating social innovation and sector development;
- Sustaining the NFP workforce;
- Improving the effectiveness of direct government funding;
- Removing impediments to better value government funded services; and
- Building stronger, more effective relationships in the future.
Some key draft recommendations include:
- A new national one stop shop, a national Registrar, to consolidate commonwealth regulatory oversight;
- A statutory definition of charitable purpose;
- Harmonisation of fundraising legislation and reporting requirements;
- Expand DGR status to all charitable institutions and charitable funds as endorsed by the proposed national Registrar;
- Government funded services delivered through NPFs to be fully funded, and accounting for all costs including wages at market rates;
- Compliance requirements proportionate to the scale of the programs funded; and
- Establish an Officer for NFP Sector Engagement within Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The Commission also comments on taxation issues for the Not for Profit sector, including the application of Fringe Benefit Tax, but notes that all decisions will be taken within the jurisdiction of the Henry Tax Review.
The full report can be accessed at http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/study/not-for-profit/draft
A summary of draft recommendations can be accessed at http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/91721/04-draft-recommendations-summary.pdf
Written submissions are due by 24 November.
VCOSS is developing a response to the draft report. We encourage community agencies to contribute their own submissions or feel free to contact Paula Grogan (details below) to discuss the development of the VCOSS submission.
For further information about this forum or the VCOSS submission please contact Paula Grogan, Community Sector Sustainability Policy Coordinator, VCOSS on T: (03) 9654 5050 or E:paula.grogan@vcoss.org.au.