Last week a Senate Committee report was lobbed that really should have been reported on front pages around the country. So far as I can determine, it hasn’t had any media coverage whatsoever. It really is quite extraordinary.

The report recommended a new national regulatory body and a comprehensive shake-up for a sector of the economy that makes up 7.5% of GDP — in other words, bigger than the entire state of South Australia, and a rival for the mining sector in terms of economic importance.

This sector includes more than 40,000 organisations around Australia, including religions, cultural foundations and educational institutions. It reaches into every corner of Australian life.

The sector is, of course, charities and not-for-profit enterprises.

The implications of this report are huge — for all those so-called charities that collect at traffic lights, for small suburban charities, for the perpetually controversial mega-churches, such as Hillsong, and all their various branches and corporate identities, as well as for the big and reputable established cultural organisations and charities.

The report recommends that as well as a new regulator, there be a mandatory, specialist legal structure adopted for all not-for-profit organisations, through a referral of state and territory powers.

There would be a compulsory register of not-for-profit organisations and all would have to make basic financial information accessible and searchable.

The regulator would also have the power to investigate complaints about organisations.

Australian individuals and businesses give not-for-profits about $10 billion of their hard-earned each year, and that’s without taking into account grants from the Government.

I am still trying to get my head around why all this hasn’t received any coverage. I was tipped off by a source who is similarly bemused.
Let’s hope for some catch-up reportage.