Good morning everyone and thank you for having me. I acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi‑wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, and all First Nations people present today.
It is great to be back with the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission team, the people who underpin Australia's trust in the charitable sector.
Every time I speak with you, I am reminded that while the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission's work might not always make the front page, it helps sustain the institutions that hold our society together. You are the quiet custodians of public confidence, the reason Australians can give, volunteer and partner with charities knowing those organisations are accountable and well‑governed.
A sector that matters
Australia's 65,000 registered charities are as diverse as the people they serve. They feed the hungry, preserve the environment, keep the arts alive and offer comfort in crisis. They are the sports coaches, the shelter workers, the conservationists and the advocates giving voice to those who might otherwise go unheard.
In total, the sector employs over 1 in 10 Australian workers and mobilises the energy of millions of volunteers. It is a remarkable engine of social connection and compassion. And it functions well because you make sure it can be trusted.
Strengthening the foundations
Since coming into government in 2022, we have worked to strengthen those foundations. We have improved the deductible gift recipient system, so community foundations, the backbone of local philanthropy, can now access tax‑deductible status through a clear new pathway.
We have streamlined the deductible gift recipient application process for environmental organisations, harm‑prevention charities, cultural bodies and overseas aid groups. That means less red tape for the organisations delivering frontline work.
We have introduced legislation giving the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission greater discretion to comment publicly when harmful breaches of compliance occur. That reform recognises that transparency builds trust and protects the honest majority by distinguishing them from the few who misuse the public's generosity.
We have appointed Sue Woodward as Commissioner, a leader with deep sector knowledge and an unwavering commitment to fairness, who has guided the Commission with both steadiness and heart.
We have refreshed the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission Advisory Board, ensuring it reflects the richness of Australia's communities by bringing First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse, and youth voices to the table.
We have sent a clear signal that charitable advocacy is not just tolerated but valued. Democracy depends on informed debate, and charities have a vital role in shaping it.
We have worked with states and territories to harmonise fundraising rules, ending the absurd situation where a small charity might need 7 different compliance regimes just to raise funds online.
And we have funded an annual General Social Survey to capture richer data on volunteering, cultural participation and purpose‑driven activity, recognising that a healthy society cannot be measured in dollars alone.
Each of these reforms builds on your work, because strong regulation, wise guidance and credible data make it possible for governments and communities to trust the sector they rely on.
Let me make this precise through 3 stories of success from the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission this year.
Supporting charities from day one
One story that captures the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission's education‑first approach is your work supporting newly registered charities.
In the past year, more than 4,600 new charities joined the register, the largest number in any single year. That surge reflects changes to Australian Taxation Office processes, but it also shows how alive and adaptable Australian civil society remains.
Becoming a registered charity is a proud moment for any organisation. Yet it can also be daunting. Governance, reporting and compliance can seem like a foreign language at first.
That is why your initiative, the interactive webinar for first‑time reporters, has been so valuable. Drawing on insights from across the Commission, you designed a program that was not only technically sound but genuinely engaging. Live polls, visible hosts and a welcome video from Sue Woodward set the tone. Nearly 700 people registered, and over 400 attended live.
Eighty‑five per cent were reporting for the first time. They asked more than 100 questions about related party transactions, due dates and the why behind the rules. The feedback was glowing: 63 per cent found it 'extremely useful,' and the rest found it 'useful.'
That is not just a good webinar. That is a regulatory success story. When charities understand their obligations, they are empowered to meet them and to get on with the business of doing good.
Improving the system, one notice at a time
Let's turn to another story.
Sometimes the work you do is invisible precisely because it makes things run more smoothly. Take the issue of Australian Securities and Investments Commission notices on company extracts for charities.
For years, charitable companies have faced a frustrating problem. Third parties, such as banks, real estate agents and even government agencies, have been checking the Australian Securities and Investments Commission register instead of the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission Charity register to verify their details.
The result has been thousands of charities forced to keep updating 2 separate systems, even though the law says they need only report to the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission.
Rather than passing the buck, you worked with Australian Securities and Investments Commission to fix it. Together, you updated the notices that appear on Australian Securities and Investments Commission extracts, making clear that for charitable companies, the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission register should be relied upon. You clarified fee waivers and annual renewal rules, and you gave practical guidance to the 12,000 charities affected.
It is a small change, but it solves a big frustration. It saves time, reduces duplication and signals that regulators can collaborate for the public good.
Helping charities get back on track
A third story that shows the heart of your work is your engagement with a rural charity.
Back in 2018, the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission engaged with the rural charity over concerns about governance and fund management. It was not an easy conversation. But rather than rushing to punitive action, the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission took an educative, guidance‑first approach.
The rural charity responded with seriousness, appointing an independent board, engaging external experts and reforming its processes. The charity emerged stronger, more accountable and better equipped to serve rural communities through droughts, floods and fires.
What is remarkable is not just the turnaround, but the fact that the improvement has endured. When a member of your leadership team visited the charity last month, at the charity's invitation, the conversation was about ongoing governance and continuous improvement.
That is how you know your approach works. It does not just fix problems. It builds capability. It turns compliance into confidence.
Public trust in practice
If the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission's first decade was about establishing credibility, its second is about deepening trust. Australians want a regulator that is firm but fair, one that enforces standards while understanding the realities of community work.
Your education‑first philosophy embodies that balance. You are helping charities avoid mistakes before they become breaches. And you are using data and communication to make compliance less of a hurdle and more of a partnership.
The public might never see the hours you spend clarifying a rule, testing a form or answering a nervous treasurer's call. But they benefit from it every time a charity handles funds honestly, files its report correctly or earns a donor's confidence.
A government that believes in the sector
For too long, the sector was treated with suspicion, as though advocacy were a nuisance and excessive reporting requirements a virtue. This government has taken a different approach. We see charities as essential partners in national wellbeing.
When natural disasters strike, charities are first to respond. When inequality rises, they see it before the statistics do. When governments want to connect with communities, charities often know the way in.
That is why we have worked to rebuild trust between government and the sector, to listen, to collaborate and to recognise the expertise that sits outside Canberra as well as within it.
Looking ahead
Looking to the future, I see 3 priorities for all of us.
First, embedding transparency and data capability. The Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission register is not just a compliance tool; it is a national resource. By linking data, improving searchability and integrating with other systems, we can make it easier for donors, researchers and policymakers to understand the sector's impact.
Second, continuing to simplify regulation. Charities do not exist to fill out forms. Every hour saved on administration is an hour returned to purpose. Harmonising fundraising laws is just the start. We will keep working with you and the states to reduce duplication and improve consistency.
Third, building a culture of innovation and learning within the regulator itself. Whether it is through smarter digital services, user‑testing new guidance or partnering with universities for evaluation, the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission can lead by example, showing how evidence and empathy can coexist in public administration.
Gratitude and pride
I want to close with gratitude.
Thank you for the professionalism you bring to your work. For the care you show when dealing with anxious charities. For the judgment you exercise when the right answer is not always the easiest one.
And thank you for the way you embody the spirit of the sector you regulate: practical, community‑minded and motivated by purpose.
When Australians look to their charities, they see generosity and service. When I look to the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission, I see the same qualities reflected in a different form.
You help charities thrive, you protect the integrity of the sector, and you give Australians confidence that their compassion is well placed.
That is no small thing.
As we approach another year of change and challenge, I am confident that with your expertise and commitment, the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission will continue to lead by example, ensuring Australia's charities remain strong, trusted and ready to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
Note: My thanks to officials from the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission and the Australian Treasury for valuable assistance in preparing these remarks.
