Australia's first national online register of charities was launched today at an event hosted by St John Ambulance in Burwood, NSW.
The Assistant Treasurer, David Bradbury MP, joined the Federal Member for Reid, John Murphy MP, the Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), Susan Pascoe AM as well as representatives from Australian charities to celebrate the launch of this important new resource.
"The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission is Australia's first independent charities regulator, which understands charities and the important work they do," said Mr Bradbury.
"Australian charities work to support and foster communities right across Australia, and the new ACNC Register will enable the public to access information about more than 57,500 registered charities.
The ACNC Register, which can also be accessed in mobile format, will include a variety of information about registered charities. The information available on the Register will be enhanced over time, as charities begin to provide annual information statements to the ACNC.
"Research commissioned by the ACNC has shown that the public has a high level of trust in Australian charities."
"The Australian Government wants to ensure this continues, and that's one reason why we've established a regulator which understands Australian charities and can therefore support and promote public trust and confidence as one of its objectives," said Mr Bradbury.
The Federal Member for Reid, John Murphy MP, expressed his thanks to charities such as St John Ambulance for the important work they do every day right across the electorate of Reid.
"I have seen first-hand the work of charities operating at the grass roots level to support the vulnerable and disadvantaged, and help build up my local community.
"It's great that the Australian Government has established the ACNC as an independent regulator that works to strengthen and support Australian charities, by promoting public trust and confidence and working to remove unnecessary regulatory obligations."
The Australian Government has a wide-ranging not-for-profit (NFP) sector reform agenda, which focuses on supporting a strong, vibrant, diverse and independent sector.
In addition to establishing the ACNC, it has passed legislation to ban gag clauses in Government contracts with the NFP sector, introduced new Commonwealth Grant Guidelines and also recently passed historic legislation which implements Australia's first statutory definition of charity.
To access the ACNC Register visit www.acnc.gov.au.