ACNC revokes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NFP

The national charity regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), has revoked the charity status of the Townsville Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre Cooperative Society Limited.

The decision to revoke charity status, which was announced on 21 April 2017, follows an investigation into the organisation’s operations and activities. The revocation of the charity status was backdated to 15 September 2015.

Townsville Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre Cooperative Society Limited has 60 days from the date of revocation to object to the ACNC’s decisions, in which case it would be reviewed internally.

The organisation is based in Townsville and – according to the Australian Business Register (ABR) – was established in January 2005. Its registration as a charity was transferred from the Australian Taxation Office to the ACNC on 3 December 2012 – the date the ACNC was established.

The ABR record shows that the organisation had access to Commonwealth charity tax concessions, including GST Concession, Income Tax Exemption and FBT Rebate.

Following the revocation of its charity status, the organisation will lose access to Commonwealth charity tax concessions.

The ACNC Commissioner, Susan Pascoe, said the ACNC takes a proportionate approach to compliance.

“Our compliance activity starts with education and guidance,” she said.

“The ACNC has a range of regulatory powers at its disposal, including guidance and support, warnings, directions and enforceable undertakings.

“However, when we find serious circumstances of mismanagement, or deliberate breaches of the ACNC Act or Governance Standards, we will revoke charity status.”

Pascoe encouraged members of the public to raise concerns about charities with the ACNC.