'Right Here, Right Now' I’m facing a tricky editing challenge. Editing challenges occasionally arise as I post stories for As Time Goes By on the website. Most 'As Time Goes By' stories are personal, reflective in nature, however this month, one of our occasional community activists (as Phil would say, 'also known as Barry'), has written about a slice of life in which he is taking on the government!
There is a strong thread of engagement in community organisations and community issues in Barry's stories for As Time Goes By. His story relates to a 'big picture' issue impacting on volunteers in non-profit organisations, and introduces a second occasion in which written a story about similar engagement in public advocacy for rural volunteers.
While I often dip into the web for story background, a photo of an event or place, do an occasional ‘Trove’ search, Barry's story is prompting me to ‘do a deeper dive’ into the topic he is writing about, given that it is being published on the website.
My antenna detectors, honed by a background in economics, social work and education, began to sense an issue as I read Barry's story. Towards the end of last year, the U3A committee began what was an incredibly onerous task of applying for charitable status. They had been alerted through the U3A peak organisation, U3A Network Victoria, to a change in legislation which led to them pursuing registration as a charitable organization. Our President Margaret transmitted the process and eventual registration through her newsletter reports.
Having worked in the community sector, I'm aware that other peak organisations which support community organisations would almost certainly would be working to understand address the issue–so, with time in short supply, decide to do a google search to discover sources which might be worth reading as background to this story...
My search – ‘government introduces taxation for not for profit organisations impact on volunteers’ – brings up informative articles by a peak organization – 'The Institute of Community Directors Australia' - and also a very recent Senate Economics Committee Report – helping to answer some of the questions I have in my mind.
Taxing Time for NFP's 27 March 2024
Volunteer-Run NFP's face Red Tape Tangle 2 April 2024
Written by Greg Thorn, Journalist for the Australian Institute of Community Directors, both articles feature reputable interviewees, and cover the issues in a factual and informative way. .
I also select a Parliament of Australia reference brought up by the search - the path -
Parliament of Australia - Home Parliamentary Business Committees Senate Committees Senate Standing Committees on Economics Not-for-profit entities—Tax assessments Not-for-profit entities—Tax assessments Chapter 1 – Introduction -which proves to be current and most informative.
A further search for articles, using the term NFPs Tax in the Institute of Community Directors Australia website's search box, yields a quite extensive reading list, including some more recently published articles.
So much to read! Right Here, Right Now? ….. no, no time right now ... (a volunteer's life is such a busy one), but definitely on my 'To Do' List!
It does appear that Barry is 'on to something', There is recognition and awareness that the policy introduced by the LNP government in 2021-2022 has had dissemination and implementation problems under the current government. The regulations being implemented by the Australian Tax Office appear to have particularly impacted on smaller volunteer run rural non-profit organisations vulnerable to their potential consequences.
The relevant peak body has been responding to the issue, there is recognition of the difficulties being faced, with an extension of time provided for affected non-profits lodging returns and also a Senate Economics Committee continuing to work on the issue.
Right Here, Right Now, that's my initial, 'editorial' summation of the issue....
Right Here, Right Now, it's back to you, Barry...
Bev Lee
November 18 2024
There is a strong thread of engagement in community organisations and community issues in Barry's stories for As Time Goes By. His story relates to a 'big picture' issue impacting on volunteers in non-profit organisations, and introduces a second occasion in which written a story about similar engagement in public advocacy for rural volunteers.
While I often dip into the web for story background, a photo of an event or place, do an occasional ‘Trove’ search, Barry's story is prompting me to ‘do a deeper dive’ into the topic he is writing about, given that it is being published on the website.
My antenna detectors, honed by a background in economics, social work and education, began to sense an issue as I read Barry's story. Towards the end of last year, the U3A committee began what was an incredibly onerous task of applying for charitable status. They had been alerted through the U3A peak organisation, U3A Network Victoria, to a change in legislation which led to them pursuing registration as a charitable organization. Our President Margaret transmitted the process and eventual registration through her newsletter reports.
Having worked in the community sector, I'm aware that other peak organisations which support community organisations would almost certainly would be working to understand address the issue–so, with time in short supply, decide to do a google search to discover sources which might be worth reading as background to this story...
My search – ‘government introduces taxation for not for profit organisations impact on volunteers’ – brings up informative articles by a peak organization – 'The Institute of Community Directors Australia' - and also a very recent Senate Economics Committee Report – helping to answer some of the questions I have in my mind.
Taxing Time for NFP's 27 March 2024
Volunteer-Run NFP's face Red Tape Tangle 2 April 2024
Written by Greg Thorn, Journalist for the Australian Institute of Community Directors, both articles feature reputable interviewees, and cover the issues in a factual and informative way. .
I also select a Parliament of Australia reference brought up by the search - the path -
Parliament of Australia - Home Parliamentary Business Committees Senate Committees Senate Standing Committees on Economics Not-for-profit entities—Tax assessments Not-for-profit entities—Tax assessments Chapter 1 – Introduction -which proves to be current and most informative.
A further search for articles, using the term NFPs Tax in the Institute of Community Directors Australia website's search box, yields a quite extensive reading list, including some more recently published articles.
So much to read! Right Here, Right Now? ….. no, no time right now ... (a volunteer's life is such a busy one), but definitely on my 'To Do' List!
It does appear that Barry is 'on to something', There is recognition and awareness that the policy introduced by the LNP government in 2021-2022 has had dissemination and implementation problems under the current government. The regulations being implemented by the Australian Tax Office appear to have particularly impacted on smaller volunteer run rural non-profit organisations vulnerable to their potential consequences.
The relevant peak body has been responding to the issue, there is recognition of the difficulties being faced, with an extension of time provided for affected non-profits lodging returns and also a Senate Economics Committee continuing to work on the issue.
Right Here, Right Now, that's my initial, 'editorial' summation of the issue....
Right Here, Right Now, it's back to you, Barry...
Bev Lee
November 18 2024
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