By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GROVEDALE Community Centre has had its charitable status revoked and five others have until 30 March to avoid the same fate.
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission this month published lists of charities failing to fulfil their legal obligations.
Commissioner Susan Pascoe said the commission took a proportional approach to compliance activity while maintaining a commitment to protecting public trust and confidence in the sector.
“Revocation of charity status is reserved for the most serious of cases,” she said.
“We prefer to educate charities and support them to improve where appropriate.
“However, we’ll act firmly and quickly where there’s evidence of serious mismanagement or misappropriation, a serious, persistent or deliberate breach of the ACNC Act, or where vulnerable people or significant charitable assets are at risk.”
The ACNC has received over 1300 complaints against charities since it was established over two years ago.
Grovedale Community Centre had its charitable status revoked from 19 January after its 2013 annual information statement fell 11 months overdue.
Norlane Baptist Church, Gateway Christian Care Trust, Geelong Disabled and Disadvantaged Community Participation, Ross Bush Memorial Foundation and the Ukrainian Autocephalic Orthodox Church were threatened with revocation.
The ACNC said the charities were among 1400 “double defaulters” that had until 30 March to submit 2013 and 2014 annual information statements.
Another 7000 double defaulters could have their charity status revoked in the coming months.
The ACNC said complaints and concerns about charities could be lodged at acnc.gov.au/charityconcern.
