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MEDIA RELEASE
NICK XENOPHON M.L.C. INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILL
PUSH TO DISCLOSE CENTS IN CHARITY DOLLAR FROM EVENTS MAKES SENSE ·
Public Concern
Over Amounts Actually Raised From Charity Events for Charity Prompts Legislative
Reform Organisers
of charity events will be required to publicly disclose the proportion of the
ticket price that is going to the nominated charity under legislation proposed
by No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon. Mr
Xenophon said “growing public concern”
over the amount actually going to charities from events such as the current
Cherie Blair tour organised by Markson Sparks has prompted the move. Under
Section 7 of the Collections
for Charitable Purposes Act 1939 there is a ‘Restriction
on holding certain entertainments’ with the Act specifying that: 7 (1) No person shall conduct any
entertainment to which any charge for admission is made in any case where it is
held out that any part of the proceeds of the entertainment are to be devoted
(either wholly or partly) for any charitable purpose unless he is- (a) the holder of a section 7 licence under this Act; or (b)
a member of the committee or other governing body of a society, body, or
association which is the holder of a section 7 licence under this Act and who is
authorised by such licensee; or (c) authorised
so to do by a person, society, body, or association which holds a section 7
licence under this Act, and except in accordance
with such licence and authority. The
Act under Section 7 (2) also makes it an offence (punishable by a maximum fine
of $4,000) for any person selling or attempting to sell tickets without such a
licence. Under
Section 12 of the Act which provides for ‘Conditions of licence, etc.’ the Minister responsible for the
legislation (the Minister for Gambling) has specific powers:
12
(2)
“A licence may be issued subject
to any condition fixed by the Minister limiting the proportion of the proceeds
of collections and entertainments which may be applied as remuneration to
collectors or other persons concerned in the collections or entertainments and
may be issued subject to any other conditions of any kind fixed by the Minister.”
Under
Section 15 (1) of the Act ‘Statements to be furnished by
licensees’ there is a requirement
for licence holders to “keep proper accounts of the receipts and payment of
money collected or received by it for charitable purposes and of the
receipt and disposal of goods collected or received by it for charitable
purposes.” Section
15 (2) requires
the licence holders to submit a statement to the Minister “setting
out the money and goods so collected or received, the manner in which they have
been dealt with and such other information as is required by the Minister to be
included in the statement. “ Mr
Xenophon said he would be seeking changes to the legislation that would require
any advertisements for such events to provide details of the amount that will be
going to the charity (for instance, how much would go to the charity if the
event is sold out), and also to require the public disclosure of the statement
furnished to the Minister. Mr
Xenophon called on the Minister for Gambling to provide details of the
conditions of the licence for the Cherie Blair tour under Section12 of the Act. “Australians have shown that they are amongst the most generous people in the world when it comes to giving to charities – particularly in light of the Tsunami and bushfire disasters. Their generosity of spirit may be open to abuse unless there is complete transparency in the process. These reforms can only give the public confidence that their dollars are being used with integrity. It will only further encourage people to donate more to worthy causes.”
Written and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075
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