Chapter 4
An alternative to the bill – a national commission
Need for broader reform
4.1
Much of the evidence gathered by the present inquiry reiterated that the
previously identified issues of transparency, accountability, complexity and
inconsistency remain problematic:
... people who are doing public good...should receive tax
concessions. We are very strong about that. But we also say they should be
accountable.[1]
...transparency is both needed and wanted. So the imperative
for reform there must be to ensure that transparency is achieved but not in a
way that imposes undue burdens compliance wise.[2]
...charities should demonstrate levels of transparency,
accountability and governance which are beyond reproach, particularly when they
are dealing with the most vulnerable in our communities and utilising funds
from the public to deliver their services.[3]
4.2
Many submitters took the view that reform should only be pursued on a
broad basis, rather than 'piecemeal', and raised the establishment of an
independent national commission as an alternative means of achieving reform:
The Henry Review and the Productivity Commission Research
Report ‘Contribution of the not-for-profit Sector’ both raise issues regarding
the tax concessions extended to the not-for-profit sector. The issues raised in
this Bill are best addressed in the context of that broader inquiry. Any
changes to the status requirements for religious organisations and charities
should be a part of overall package of taxation law reform that improves the
enabling and regulatory environment of the sector.[4]
Redefining what constitutes charity, and how this definition
fits with the overall not-for-profit sector, is a complex issue which over the
past decade has been the subject of much debate and two lengthy and complex
Government inquiries...This is proof that the redefinition of charity is an issue
which needs to be addressed as a whole, rather than piecemeal.[5]
A public benefit test should never be legislated in
isolation, particularly in a Bill that contains little detail of how, and by
whom, it would be administered. The objects of the proposed public benefit
test, if determined to be valid, should be examined within the broader context
of reform to the not-for-profit sector, as raised in the Productivity
Commission report and the Henry Tax Review.[6]
Limitations of the bill
4.3
Although the consensus is that greater transparency and accountability
is needed and the proposed bill is a possible avenue for achieving such reform,
not all submitters are in favour of it being progressed given its narrow focus.
4.4
The bill proposes the introduction of a new section, section 50-51, to
Division 50 of the ITAA 1997. This section introduces a new requirement that
would result in an entity seeking income tax exemption under either item 1.1 or
1.2 of the ITAA 1997, needing to meet a public benefit test. Therefore, in
addition to satisfying the special condition requirements of section 50-50 and
section 50-52, charitable and religious institutions would also need to satisfy
this public benefit test before qualifying for income tax exemption.
4.5
The bill is however very limited in its coverage. No other entities
identified in section 50-5 or the remaining sections of Division 50 will be
affected. An extract of Division 50 is attached as Appendix 6.
4.6
The Committee noted that individual submitters to the inquiry tended to
favour the bill and its introduction of a public benefit test on the basis that
it would improve the status quo.[7]
I write to you in support of the Tax Laws Amendment (Public
Benefit Test) Bill 2010. I would like to see this Bill passed unchanged...In
these turbulent economic times, proper tax collection without waste is
paramount. This bill is needed so honest charitable organisations can claim tax
exemption and at the same time deny that benefit to groups who would abuse it.[8]
I am seeking to lend my support to there being a public
benefit test (PBT) for an organisation to gain tax-free status. An organisation
that operates tax-free is effectively subsidised by the taxpayer, since vital
taxes must be levied against other things, or at higher levels to make up the
shortfall. It is therefore right that the taxpayer should be assured that there
is genuine public benefit from each such organisation—–particularly at a time
when money is tight for many families.[9]
I write this in wholehearted support of the Tax Laws
Amendment (Public Benefit Test) Bill 2010, proposed by Independent Senator Nick
Xenophon. I recommend that this Bill be passed unchanged. As it stands, the
amendment will benefit the public by ensuring a greater deal of scrutiny on
organizations that apply for tax free/exempt status.[10]
4.7
Organisational and academic submitters however tended to criticise the
bill suggesting that it may not be the best way to achieve the necessary
reform, particularly in light of the recent reports by both the Productivity
Commission and the Henry Review.
4.8
In giving evidence to the Committee at its public hearing, Dr Matthew
Harding from the University of Melbourne Law School's Not-for-Profit Project
stated:
...our point is that that reform has already been the subject
of detailed scrutiny and recommendation from numerous bodies over the years but
that reform is a larger reform that what this bill is directed at. The danger
of the bill is, in our view, that it will enact part of the reform in isolation
from the whole and then there will be distortions and effects that were not
intended.[11]
4.9
This view was consistent among organisational submitters who although
supportive of reform are concerned that passage of the bill may undermine the
work of the previous inquiries. The predominant view is that reform should be
informed by the finding of these recently completed reviews:
The proposed Bill follows a wide ranging inquiry into the
Not-for-Profit sector by the Productivity Commission and of taxation matters by
the Australia’s Future Tax System Review Panel. It is noteworthy that neither
of these inquiries has recommended a public benefits test as part of proposed
reforms. It is concerning that the proposed Bill represents a fundamental shift
in the way that the tax status of charities would be assessed without
clarification as to how it fits within the broader approaches already
recommended by these inquiries.[12]
PilchConnect has made detailed submissions to the multiple inquiries
that have considered the issue of what organisations should receive
concessional taxation treatment, and what the appropriate body is to determine
status for this and other purposes... We assume that the Committee will be fully
appraised of the seminal 2001 Charity Definition Inquiry Report where these
issues were considered in a holistic way, with considerable input from the NFP
sector and consideration of overseas models. In short, PilchConnect again
recommends that:
–
any taxation reform should be underpinned by a rational policy basis for
charity and NFP taxation exemptions and other incentives;
–
this underpinning was carefully considered in the 2001 Charity
Definition Inquiry and we endorse the recommendations arising from that
Inquiry’s report;
–
the current Senate Inquiry, in line with the 2008 Senate Disclosure
Regimes for Charities and Not-for-Profit Organisations, endorses the
recommendations of 2001 Charity Definition Inquiry; and
–
implementation of these reforms to legislative treatment of charities
occurs after, or in conjunction with the establishment of a new, independent,
specialist NFP regulator.
... It is our view that the draft Bill would serve as yet more
piecemeal reform that would do more harm than good to an already complex and
unfit regulatory framework for Australia’s economically and social significant
NFP sector.[13]
The present bill...does not address any of the wider
regulatory issues which have been raised by charities in the recent review of
the sector by the Productivity Commission, or in the Henry Review.[14]
[The Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Investment and
Philanthropy] is concerned however that the introduction, in isolation, of the
provisions of the proposed Bill could have considerable unintended
consequences.[15]
...it is considered that the appropriate process to review the
relevance of any 'public benefit test' for charitable organisations is in the
context of the Federal Government's detailed response (as yet not released) to
the reports provided by the Australian Government Productivity Commission into
the contribution of the not-for-profit sector and the Australia's Future Tax
System Review...These reviews contained a number of recommendations that could
possibly affect the charitable and not-for-profit sector and in this light it
is prudent not to introduce new legislation that has not been considered in
conjunction with any recommendations or debates relating to these reviews.[16]
4.10
When advocating that change be informed by the previous inquiries,
submitters supported the recommendations made by those inquiries which, if
adopted, would see Australia's not-for-profit sector embark on reform
consistent with the emerging practice in international jurisdictions.
4.11
The examples of the approach taken in foreign jurisdictions received
much attention throughout the inquiry, many organisations complimentary of the
reform that has been achieved, particularly in England and Wales and in New
Zealand.
Committee view
4.12
The Committee is of the view that the taxation and regulatory
arrangements of the not-for-profit sector, including, but not limited to,
charitable and religious institutions, is in need of urgent reform.
4.13
The Committee shares the view of many submitters that the scope of the
bill before the Senate is too narrow and that the bill inappropriately
delegates legislative power.
4.14
The Committee takes the view that this inquiry has only served to
highlight the urgent need for broader reforms within the sector. This has been a
recurring theme in all previous inquiries dealing with possible regulation of
not-for-profit organisations. The Committee considers it appropriate that any incoming
government initiate broader sector-wide reform, following an extensive
consultation process. The Committee believes that reform of the sector can no
longer be ignored as reform would provide much needed support, transparency and
accountability within the not‑for-profit and charitable sector.
There comes a point where a government...has to make a decision
either to do something or to stop saying that it is going to intend to do
something, because this matter has been on the agenda for many, many years.[17]
The experience overseas
4.15
Throughout the inquiry the practices that apply to the not-for-profit
sectors in foreign jurisdictions were consistently cited by submitters as
examples of reform achieved in other countries. These examples were cited as
being both relevant to the consideration of a public benefit test and
suggestive of the need for broader reform as the framework which governs
Australia's not-for-profit sector is derived from the English tradition.
4.16
The Committee notes that its previous report Disclosure regimes for
charities and not-for-profit organisations (December 2008) extensively
considered the regulatory frameworks governing the not-for-profit sectors in
foreign jurisdictions, specifically those of England and Wales, and New
Zealand. The Committee does not see another detailed analysis as necessary and
would rather examine how the experiences of those jurisdictions apply to the
continued development of the sector within Australia. The Committee has
attached the relevant chapter of its 2008 report as Appendix 8.
England and Wales—Charities Act
2006
4.17
The United Kingdom has a strong history of legal reform of the
charitable sector that includes a complicated mix of case law, common law and
legislation. In the UK the pinnacle of this reform was the Charities Act
2006 (UK) ('The English Act'). The Act followed previous legal
reforms that had been undertaken since the evolution of case law beyond the
original four heads of charity.
4.18
The UK previously legislated with respect to charities in 1958, 1992 and 1993. A review of the entire charities sector
commissioned by then British Prime Minister Tony Blair in July 2001 recommended the modernisation of charity law, with an emphasis
on enhancing accountability and transparency.[18]
At that time in the UK, charities and religions were operating in a similar
framework to that which applies in Australia today.
4.19
The review recommended several reforms including the establishment in
legislation of a definition of 'charitable purpose', enhanced accountability
and transparency, improved powers of the regulator (the Charity Commission for
England and Wales) and the establishment of a Charity Tribunal within the
British court hierarchy.
Joint Committee Report 2004
4.20
The British Government published the draft bill in May 2004. A Joint
Committee comprised of members of both Houses examined the draft legislation, publishing
their report after extensive consultation with stakeholders across the UK in
September 2004.[19]
4.21
That report included over 50 recommendations, finding that law reform in
this area was 'well overdue'[20]
and recognising that the establishment of a Charity Tribunal would encourage
transparency and accountability and ultimately assist the charity sector's
growth.[21]
Charities Act 2006 (UK)
4.22
The Committee notes with interest that the Charity Commission for
England and Wales existed prior to the Charities Act 2006 (UK).[22]
The 2006 Act played an important role in harmonising the powers of the Charity
Commission as the sole regulator of the sector, allowing higher levels of
scrutiny and accountability with public monies.
4.23
The English Act did not override the Statute of Elizabeth as suggested,
but further developed the heads of charities[23]
and removed the presumption of public benefit,[24]
through the introduction of section 3 of the Act:
Section 3 The 'public benefit' test
(1) This section applies
in connection with the requirements in section 2(1)(b) that a purpose falling
within section 2(2) must be for the public benefit if it is to be a charitable
purpose.
(2) In determining whether
that requirement is satisfied in relation to any such purpose, it is not
presumed that a purpose of a particular description is for the public benefit...[25]
Charities and Trustee Investment
(Scotland) Act 2005
4.24
In Scotland, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005
('the Scottish Act') provides for the establishment of the Office of the
Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) as well as the implementation of similar
provisions to those found in the English Act. As previously mentioned, the
Scottish and English Acts operate complementarily of each other, which allows
for greater consistency both across and within the UK.
4.25
The Scottish Act however does not override the common law with respect
to charities. Section 7 defines a charity test and charitable purpose.[26]
It also includes provisions which enable the Judiciary to interpret charitable
purpose as required.[27]
4.26
The Scottish Act, like the English Act, explicitly removes the common
law presumption of public benefit, contained in Section 8(1):
No particular purpose is, for the purposes of establishing
whether the charity test has been met, to be presumed to be for the public
benefit.[28]
4.27
Similarly, the Scottish Act provides legal redress for decisions of the
OSCR to be examined by the Scottish Judiciary.[29]
Section 34 provides explicit avenues for the OSCR to legally address concerns
about compliance within Scottish charity and not for profit law. This process
is commenced in the Scottish Court of Session, significantly departing from the
English model, which was the establishment of a sector specific Charity
Tribunal.
Charities Act 2005 (New Zealand)
4.28
Prior to the passage of the Charities Act 2005 (New Zealand) the
Inland Revenue Service assisted charities in a similar manner to the ATO's dual
regulator/tax collector role in Australia.[30]
4.29
The New Zealand legislation also includes a definition of serious
wrongdoing, which may be useful for Australian drafters wanting to include a
'detriment' provision:
(a) an unlawful or a corrupt use of the funds or
resources of the entity; or
(b) an act, omission, or course of conduct that
constitutes a serious risk to the public interest in the orderly and
appropriate conduct of the affairs of the entity; or
(c) an act, omission, or course of conduct that
constitutes an offence; or
(d) an act, omission, or course of conduct by a person
that is oppressive, improperly discriminatory, or grossly negligent, or that
constitutes gross mismanagement.[31]
4.30
Legislation establishing a Charities Commission was introduced in New
Zealand with the passage of the Charities Act 2005 (New Zealand). This
Act, introduced by the former Clark Government, was sent to the House of
Representatives (NZ) Social Services Committee for inquiry and report. The
inquiry received a total of 753 submissions, and held public hearings in
Auckland over two days.[32]
4.31
The Social Services Committee report recommended substantial changes to
the bill, broadly supporting the establishment of the Charities Commission as a
Crown entity but changing the Commission's focus to include one of guidance and
education so as to increase flexibility of registration.[33]
Flexibility was a specific concern raised and noted in the report, as
organisations raised concerns about financial costs associated with compliance
mechanisms.[34]
The bill itself was highly contentious, both before and after the Social
Services Committee's report and the subsequent passage through the House of
Representatives on 12 April 2005.[35]
The bill was amended to reflect some changes originally proposed by the Social
Services Committee, to ensure its passage through the Parliament.
Charities Act 2009 (Ireland)
4.32
The Irish parliament has also recently revised its legislation relating
to charities. One provision in this seeks to prevent support going to dangerous
cults. Section 3(10) reads as follows:
For the purposes of this section, a purpose or a gift is not
a purpose or a gift for the advancement of religion if it is made to or for the
benefit of an organisation or cult—
(a) the principal object of which is the making of
profit, or
(b) that employs oppressive psychological manipulation—
(i) of its followers, or
(ii) for the purpose of
gaining new followers.
International best practice
4.33
Informed by the above jurisdictional comparisons, the Committee notes
with interest that these recent reforms were preceded by much debate and public
consultation. Reform, however, in all cases has largely been consistent. This
supports the concept of an emerging best practice for the not-for-profit
sector.
4.34
Mr Trevor Garrett, the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Charities
Commission, in response to the question of an emerging international best
practice, cited the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland) and Ireland, each
of which has moved to implement a 'charity commission-type system'.[36]
The United Kingdom has in fact had some form of charity commission since the 19th
century.[37]
4.35
Evidence provided by Mr David Locke of the Charity Commission of England
and Wales further suggests that it is these jurisdictions which are leading
reform in this sector of the economy.
We do have some links with the Charities Commission of New
Zealand. There is an international regulators forum which has now met on three
occasions... We also have an international program at the charity commission. It
has been in operation since 2003-04 and in that context we work with a number
of different governments and regulatory authorities across the world.[38]
Committee view
4.36
The Committee considers that reform in the Australian not-for-profit
sector should be guided by international best practice and notes the success of
England and Wales in setting a precedent and taking a leading role in
international reform of the sector.
4.37
The Committee considers that the UK model informed New Zealand in the
design of its commission.
4.38
The Committee also notes the approach taken in Scotland where in
addition to introducing statutory definitions of 'charity' and 'charitable
purpose' the ability of an entity to seek guidance from the courts was
preserved in the Act. The Committee considers that if Australia should
introduce statutory definitions of 'charity' and 'charitable purpose', the
inclusion of such a clause could help allay the concerns of organisations
currently receiving the benefits of charitable status, but which were not
expressly covered by the definitions contained in a statute.
4.39
The Committee considers that the establishment of a Charity Tribunal is
preferable to the automatic referral of compliance issues to a court within the
Australian judiciary. Due to the risk of compliance burdens being imposed, the
Committee finds it preferable that adjudication by the judiciary occur in a
separate Charity Tribunal in the first instance, with appellate jurisdiction to
a higher court available if necessary. The Committee is of the view that the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal would be an ideal model to either adopt
separately or have a Charity Tribunal incorporated into, to ease costs of
regulator establishment.
4.40
The introduction of section 20 of the Scottish Act tends to confirm the
concerns raised with the Committee by Treasury officials that the Commonwealth
may not have sufficient authority under section 51 of the Constitution to enact
legislation introducing a Charities Commission in Australia:
...my understanding is that there is not sufficient
constitutional power for the Commonwealth to seek to cover that whole field and
that it would therefore be necessary for the Commonwealth to act in concert
with the states and territories through either a COAG process or some other
process.[39]
4.41
The Committee takes the view that legislation for the not-for-profit
sector needs to apply across all charities and religious groups evenly and
operate across state and territory jurisdictions. As a result, given the
experience of Scotland, the Committee sees value in referring to the
experiences of other countries when enacting legislation of this type,
especially a country like the United Kingdom where, like Australia, devolved
powers require cross jurisdictional arrangements. The Committee suggests that,
should moves to enact a national commission in Australia be taken, negotiation
through COAG would be required.
4.42
'Charity Commission' may be too narrow a name for a regulator whose role
encompasses other not-for-profit organisations. The Committee also considers
that the term 'Not-for-Profit Commission' is negative as it defines
organisations by what they are not and is somewhat ambiguous given that government
departments and entities such as the Reserve Bank of Australia are not-for-profit
entities but would not be covered. Other possible names for the independent
commission include 'Third Sector Commission'[40],
'Tax Exempt Entities Commission', 'Community Organisations Commission' or
'Social Enterprise Commission'.
4.43
The introduction of a national commission should not be regarded as an
additional bureaucratic impost; it would rather replace a complex array of
state and territory regulatory bodies, streamlining processes for charities and
reducing their compliance costs. It would increase public confidence in
charities by improving their transparency as well as being a source of advice
and assistance to charities.
4.44
The Committee would expect a commission to adopt a tiered reporting
system to ensure that small not-for-profit organisations are not overburdened
by the costs of compliance.
4.45
The Committee sympathises with the frustrations of some witnesses that a
commission has been recommended by a number of reports, but not implemented.
There comes a point where a government, probably not before
the next election but whoever might be the government after the next election,
has to make a decision either to do something or to stop saying that it is
going to intend to do something, because this matter has been on the agenda for
many, many years: should we have a charities commission or not? What structure
should we have in place? We had an Industry Commission [report] in 1995. We
have had extensive consultation with the sector leading to the charities
definition bill. It is a goldmine for the lawyers because they like to entice
you into using them to make submissions. We then had the Productivity
Commission. Most recently, we had the Henry tax review. All of the major
charitable organisations in this country, the major churches, have made
submissions to all of those. It is not my place to give direction to government,
but it would be good to either say, ‘Here is a model that we can consult about,
that we can actually get into the detail of and see whether it is workable or
not and how we finetune it,’ or leave the status quo but not continue this
process of creating uncertainty.[41]
4.46
The Committee believes it is time for action. It expects legislation
establishing a commission to be referred to it in due course.
Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends that the incoming government work
through COAG to establish a single independent national commission for not‑for-profit
organisations. The incoming government should establish a working group, or use
the COAG Business Regulation and Competition Working Group. The working group
should consult extensively with the sector in a timely manner to address issues
arising from the establishment of a commission which applies a public benefit
test. The Australian model should draw on the Charity Commissions in the United
Kingdom and New Zealand.
Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that the working group consider the
functions and role of an Australian commission which should include, but not be
limited to, the following:
- promote public trust and confidence in the charitable sector;
- encourage and promote the effective use of charitable
resources;
- develop and maintain a register of all not-for-profit
organisations in Australia using a unique identifying number (for example an
ABN) as the identifier;
- develop and maintain an accessible, searchable public
interface;
- undertake either an annual descriptive analysis of the
organisations that it regulates or provide the required information annually to
the ABS for collation and analysis;
- educate and assist charities in relation to matters of good
governance and management;
- facilitate, consider and process applications for registration
as charitable entities;
- process annual returns submitted by charitable entities;
- supply information and documents in appropriate circumstances
for the purposes of the Tax Acts;
- monitor charitable entities and their activities to ensure
that registered entities continue to be qualified;
- inquire into charitable entities and persons engaging in
serious wrongdoing in connection with a charitable entity;
- monitor and promote compliance with legislation;
- consider, report and make recommendations in relation to any
matter relating to charities; and
- stimulate and promote research into any matter relating to
charities.
Senate Annette Hurley
Chair
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