Thu, 19/08/2010

Labor Commitments

A re-elected Gillard Government has committed to:

  • Creating a new Office for the Non-Profit Sector within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to drive and coordinate sector reform, supported by a new Non-Profit Sector Reform Council made up of representatives from across the sector. 
  • An immediate scoping study for a national ‘one-stop-shop’ regulator for the non‑profit sector – looking into the role and design for a single regulator to remove the current complex regulatory arrangements and streamline reporting arrangements (including  “providing a single reporting point, and a consistent model, for non-profit corporate and financial information, with a goal of ‘report once, use often’.“)
  • Greater harmonisation and simplification between the Federal and State and Territory Governments on non-profit sector issues, including regulation.  
  • Reducing red tape for government funded non-profit organisations.

YWCA Australia position

YWCA Australia welcomes these commitments as a positive first step towards reforming the regulation of the not for profit sector to increase our sector’s ability to deliver productive outcomes for the individuals and communities we work with.  We also welcome the ALP’s commitment to ongoing long-term reform of the sector.  In reforming the sector, it’s important that:

  • Regulation of the sector is made complementary and comparable with the for-profit sector, so that NFPs may provide comparative accountability with the for-profit sector (which is particularly important for NFPs that seek support for their work in the corporate sector).
  • Government funded services delivered through NFPs are fully funded, accounting for all costs including wages at market rates. Where wages rise, for example as a result of the equal remuneration case for social service workers, governments need to commit to funding those wages rises.  The impact of wage rises on programs and services funded by non-government sources, such as corporate or philanthropic funders, also needs to be considered.  Find out about the Sector Statement on Equal Pay 
  • Funding cycles for programs and services are lengthened to maximise outcomes, efficiency and value for money.

YWCA Australia also calls on the Coalition to commit to the sector reforms recommended by the Productivity Commission.

More information

For more information or for media comment, contact policy@ywca.org.au

» Read the ALP Fact Sheet on proposed NFP reforms

» Read YWCA Australia’s 2009 submission to the Productivity Commission’s Not for Profit Inquiry