This is part of a series on charities in Australia. Read more of the series here.
A basic religious charity (BRC) is not subject to the same rules as other charities: it is not obliged to give the regulator any information on its finances, no matter its size, and unlike other charities, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission cannot suspend or remove a member of a BRC’s governing body.
Most alarmingly, a BRC does not have to meet any governance standards that apply to other charities, including:
- They must be able to provide information about its purposes to the public
- They must take reasonable steps to be accountable to its members and provide them with adequate opportunity to raise concerns about how the charity is governed
- They must not commit a serious offence (such as fraud) under any Australian law or breach a law that may result in a penalty
- They must take reasonable steps to be satisfied that the board or committee members are not disqualified from managing a corporation under the federal Corporations Act 2001
- Those running charities must ensure that those responsible: (1) act with reasonable care and diligence; (2) act honestly and fairly in the best interests of the charity and for its charitable purposes; (3) not misuse their position or information they gain; (4) disclose conflicts of interest; (5) ensure that financial affairs are managed responsibly; not allow the charity to operate while insolvent.
None of the above apply to a BRC charity.
the idea that religions get to avoid or ignore rules and obligations which everyone else has to follow (unless, of course, you’re very wealthy) is ridiculous and anti-democratic
the fact that many (most? i.e. more than 50%) religious organisations then use their ability to ignore these rules and obligations to enrich themselves and enable abuses on an industrial scale is sickening
Anti-democratic? Hardly. Tax status and corporate governance are not restricted to a particular type of political structure. It is purely a legislative matter. There are as many types of “Democracy” in the world as there are nations.
I am an atheist so have a bias against my taxes supporting religious organisations without proper scrutiny.
Most church charities run very close to just breaking even. I would guess few actually pay dividends – but their losses are quaranteed by the chuches
We’ve had religion run the show for at least the last 2000 years. Any chance we could try the next 2000 without it?
T’d be nice.
Pay more tax to fund the government entities? Most church charities operate with high rates of no pay volunteers
Peter, may I suggest this is how they would like you to see it. Many pay their executive levels very well. When the tax breaks are included it is even more.
Yes like any good capitalist they know how to pay the upper echelons very well and the workers very little.
Im interested Maroochy if you could tell us where this info came from and what religious organizations it applies to? It’s just because the people I know lived / live on a shoe string.
All The Meek & Dutiful –
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.
Even the 7yr old Alice twigged that “jam every other day” meant none at all now, like suffer now and reap your reward in heaven.
Perhaps the happy clappers down the road can enlighten you.
How has this lack of accountability been able to go on for so long without public questioning?
can’t help thinking about Howard’s protégé, Peter Hollingworth who despite his shameful past as Archbishop of Brisbane, has cost the taxpayers about twelve millions dollars since he was forced to resign as GG after an unglamourous two years in the job.
Unjustifiable
It alarms me that such a regime could ever get approved, let alone maintained for a decade