❓ Hon. Sally Talbot raises concerns about the charity status of two volunteer bush fire brigades. The Minister responds that the brigades were deregistered and merged years prior, and DFES has been proactive in assisting brigades with ACNC compliance.
AnsweredQoN 1145Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
VOLUNTEER BUSH FIRE BRIGADES
1145. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the
Attorney General representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
(1) Is the
Minister for Emergency Services aware that the Carbunup and Yalyalup bush fire
brigades are listed as missing by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits
Commission and could lose their charity status?
(2) Is the
minister aware of any other volunteer fire brigades that are at risk of losing
their not-for-profit status?
(3) What
impact will losing their not-for-profit status have on the brigades'
capacity to operate and respond to bushfires?
(4) Does the
Department of Fire and Emergency Services keep a record of the contacts for
bush fire brigades in Western Australia; and, if so, will the minister assist
the ACNC in finding these brigades and ensuring that their not-for-profit
status remains intact?
1145. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the
Attorney General representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
(1) Is the
Minister for Emergency Services aware that the Carbunup and Yalyalup bush fire
brigades are listed as missing by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits
Commission and could lose their charity status?
(2) Is the
minister aware of any other volunteer fire brigades that are at risk of losing
their not-for-profit status?
(3) What
impact will losing their not-for-profit status have on the brigades'
capacity to operate and respond to bushfires?
(4) Does the
Department of Fire and Emergency Services keep a record of the contacts for
bush fire brigades in Western Australia; and, if so, will the minister assist
the ACNC in finding these brigades and ensuring that their not-for-profit
status remains intact?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for Emergency Services, I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. The Department of Fire and
Emergency Services advises —
(1) The
Carbunup bush fire brigade was deregistered and merged with the Vasse bush fire
brigade at the request of the Shire of Busselton and closed on 31 August 2010.
The Yalyalup bush fire brigade was deregistered and merged with the Hithergreen
bush fire brigade on 23 June 2005. As neither of these brigades are currently
active, they do not need to be registered with the ACNC.
(2)–(4)
Yes. DFES has been actively involved with the ACNC since the introduction of
the new taxation reform. DFES implemented a comprehensive communication
strategy that included customised charity information packs mailed out to all
volunteer entities and associations. For volunteer bush fire brigades, they
were distributed to each local government, the Western Australian Local
Government Association and the Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades of
Western Australia. The packs were also published on DFES's volunteer
portal. DFES has maintained a proactive communication and support strategy to
assist the Western Australian emergency service volunteering community to be
compliant with its legislative obligations. DFES will continue to work
collaboratively with the ACNC and the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service
Authorities Council to minimise or streamline the volunteer emergency service
entities' reporting requirements.
honourable member for some notice of the question. The Department of Fire and
Emergency Services advises —
(1) The
Carbunup bush fire brigade was deregistered and merged with the Vasse bush fire
brigade at the request of the Shire of Busselton and closed on 31 August 2010.
The Yalyalup bush fire brigade was deregistered and merged with the Hithergreen
bush fire brigade on 23 June 2005. As neither of these brigades are currently
active, they do not need to be registered with the ACNC.
(2)–(4)
Yes. DFES has been actively involved with the ACNC since the introduction of
the new taxation reform. DFES implemented a comprehensive communication
strategy that included customised charity information packs mailed out to all
volunteer entities and associations. For volunteer bush fire brigades, they
were distributed to each local government, the Western Australian Local
Government Association and the Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades of
Western Australia. The packs were also published on DFES's volunteer
portal. DFES has maintained a proactive communication and support strategy to
assist the Western Australian emergency service volunteering community to be
compliant with its legislative obligations. DFES will continue to work
collaboratively with the ACNC and the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service
Authorities Council to minimise or streamline the volunteer emergency service
entities' reporting requirements.
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