Non-Profit News Service No. 0391 - Support for victims of the Coonabarabran bushfires

The Acting Assistant Treasurer has declared the January 2013 Coonabarabran bushfires a disaster for the purposes of establishing Australian disaster relief funds.

An extract from the government's media release dated 17 January 2013 is below. The full media release can be viewed on the Prime Minister's website.

Acting Assistant Treasurer, Senator Penny Wong, has today declared the January 2013 Coonabarabran bushfires a disaster for the purposes of establishing Australian disaster relief funds.

This declaration ensures that new funds and qualifying existing funds established for the relief of people in communities affected by these bushfires can receive tax deductible donations.

While funds still need to apply for formal endorsement, the Tax Office has established a fast track process to approved applications as quickly as possible.

These events have caused devastation to the community around Coonabarabran, and have resulted in widespread damage to property and the environment.

As communities in the Coonabarabran region begin to count the cost of these bushfires, Australians from around the country have already begun to offer their support.

Donations to Australian disaster relief funds, established to provide relief in the aftermath of the bushfires, will be tax deductible for a period of two years from the date of the declaration.

For more information about: donations to 'bucket appeals', refer to Non-Profit News Service No. 390 - Claiming deductions for donations to disaster relief collecting and making donations, refer to Assisting victims of disasters Australian disaster relief funds and applying for endorsement as a deductible gift recipient, refer to Australian disaster relief funds and tax deductible gifts.

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