Watch the webinars now
Part 1 Grievance – https://youtu.be/jkJjMHYOLfw
Part 2 Remuneration – https://youtu.be/HW1xQhYFCuk
Part 3 Reporting – https://youtu.be/bIAzS0ZBPnM
The Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG) has released three consultation papers seeking comment on the following priority matters:
- a default (model rule) grievance procedure for incorporated associations;
- identifying what details of remuneration and benefits paid to committee members and senior staff (and relatives of those people) must be disclosed to the annual general meeting of an incorporated association; and
- identifying appropriate financial reporting thresholds for incorporated associations and fundraisers.
During this three-part webinar, participants heard what the proposed regulations mean for incorporated associations and those fundraising in Queensland and had their say about the options proposed.
- Will your association change its rules to cater for mediation of disputes or adopt the terms of the model rules?
- Who will be a mediator for your association, and what do they do?
- Will your association disclose payments to management committee members and senior staff to the AGM in an aggregated sum or each person?
- Does the association disclose committee member benefits such as travel expenses, gifts and a free pie or lemonade while manning the association canteen as a volunteer?
- At what point should review and audit thresholds become mandatory for associations – the previous ACNC or the current ACNC threshold?
- Should those with fundraising approval be required to keep and retain specific documents such as receipts for all donations for door-to-door and, street collections must be issued on the carbon copy or numbered butt principle.
The three webinars were heard at the end of August
- Grievance | Tuesday 30 August (Consultation paper 1)
- Remuneration | Wednesday 31 August (Consultation paper 2)
- Reporting | Thursday 1 September (Consultation paper 3)
Background
In 2020, the Parliament of Queensland passed the Associations Incorporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (the Amendment Act). The Amendment Act introduced changes to the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 and the Collections Act 1966.
Some amendments were not in force while consultations were to take place to develop regulations to complement that Act. Due to COVID-19 the consultations were delayed for two years, but are now progressing.
The relevant amendments to the Associations Incorporations Act commenced on 22 June 2022, but will not have practical effect until various matters are prescribed in the Associations Incorporation Regulation.