Charities Consultative Committee minutes - 22 November 2011

2. Consideration of the minutes from the previous meeting

The minutes from the previous meeting, held on 20 September 2011 in Canberra were accepted pending the de-attribution of members' comments.

Update on action items from 20 September 2011

Action item	1
Description	Receipting issues on fundraising
Responsibility	Jason Aitchison - members to respond to Richard to indicate willingness to form small receipting issues committee. Update - a phone hook-up was held on Monday 21 November with interested parties including the Attorney-General's Department which provided information about money laundering and terrorism financing risks in the charitable sector, the Fundraising Institute of Australia and Dr Ted Flack of St Vincent de Paul Queensland. Issues were clarified and a fact sheet may be created to detail receipting rules.
Due date	Completed

Action item	2
Description	Clarify how communication and coordination occurs between Minister Plibersek and Minister Shorten and indicate this on the 'mud map'. Update - the mud map was updated to reflect communication co-ordination.
Responsibility	Ms Susan Pascoe
Due date	Completed

One member also challenged the fact that members advised the lag time for the NP news service was much better now in the previous meeting.

There is a continued focus to improve this service.

Summary of action items arising from this meeting

Action item	1
Description	Query about whether a private ruling had been published as an ATO ID
Responsibility	Michael Hardy
Due date	As soon as possible

Response to action item 1

All ATO private rulings are published in a way that does not identify the recipient as either an ATO ID or as an Edited Version (EV). The process of removing identifying information may also remove other information which can sometimes make the EV's seem disjointed. Sometimes reading an EV in conjunction with a relevant public ruling or other reference material can assist in understanding the EV.

In relation to a private ruling which one member was interested in, the ATO has followed up with the member to provide a reference to the relevant draft public ruling that was current at the time the EV was prepared and this has assisted in better understanding of the issue.

Action item	2
Description	ATO to provide an awareness article for Treasury newsletter about reviewing and updating contact details that includes the best way to do this.
Responsibility	Michael Hardy
Due date	As soon as possible

Action item	3
Description	Charities tip sheet cover note and presentation from meeting to be sent to members.
Responsibility	Richard Gates
Due date	As soon as possible

Action item	4
Description	Members to provide feedback on Charities tip sheet (compliance issues) and cover note. Email charitiesconsultativecommittee
Responsibility	CCC members
Due date	End of calendar year - 2011

Action item	5
Description	Produce a fact sheet for ato.gov.au for all members to access, containing clear answers/definitions to receipting issues.
Responsibility	Michael Hardy
Due date	As soon as possible

Sections within Agenda items

• 1. Welcome, apologies and introductions
• 2. Consideration of the minutes from the previous meeting
• 3. Compliance program 2012 - Religious organisations
• 4. ACNC Treasury Taskforce update
• 5. ACNC ATO taskforce update
• 6. Not-for-profit reforms
• 7. Other business