Key Documents
The Hon Bill Shorten has released a Consultation Paper on the definition of charity as part of a consultation process to provide interested parties with an opportunity to comment.
The Government announced in the 2011-12 Budget that it would introduce a statutory definition of charity, applicable across all Commonwealth laws from 1 July 2013.
This Consultation Paper outlines the background to a statutory definition, including previous recommendations and inquiries, as well as developments that have occurred since the 2003 consultation package on a charity definition was released.
It discusses elements of a possible core definition of charity by raising for discussion possible refinements to the exposure draft of the Charities Bill 2003. It also covers Australian Disaster Relief Funds, interactions with State and Territory laws and transitional issues.
The Consultation Paper makes frequent references to the exposure draft of the Charities Bill 2003. The exposure draft and related explanatory material are available on the Board of Taxation website.
