Opposition says government too slow on sector reform

Despite being handed the Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint last November, the government ignored a request by the authors of the report to offer a detailed response to the Blueprint’s findings by March 31.

Shadow Charities spokesman Senator Dean Smith said the lack of action four months after receiving the report was the latest example of the government placing the sector at the bottom of its priority list.

“Labor’s failure to respond to the Blueprint confirms the total lack of urgency and disinterest that characterises Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh and Labor’s approach to this important area,” said Senator Smith.

The report was compiled by the Blueprint Expert Reference Group (BERG), established by the federal government to help “guide government reform and sector-led initiatives to better support and connect with communities.”

BERG members consisted of some of the most senior leaders in the charity and not-for-profit sector, including Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) CEO Cassandra Goldie, Anglicare CEO Kasy Chambers and Volunteering Australia CEO Mark Pearce.

Professor Jo Barraket, director of the Melbourne Social Equity Institute at the University of Melbourne, and Professor David Gilchrist, director of the Centre for Public Value at the University of Western Australia, were expert advisors to the BERG.

The group's 84-page report made 18 recommendations designed to secure the future of the sector.

These ranged from broadening and simplifying the deductible gift recipient (DGR) system to providing more support for NFP advocacy and better measurement of sector effectiveness and outcomes.

At the time of the report’s release in late November, BERG members called on the federal government to issue a detailed written response to the Blueprint and each of its initiatives by 31 March 2025, including a proposed timeframe for implementation and funding for ongoing activities.

Senator Smith said the fact the government had failed to do so highlighted the lack of attention it is paying to charities and NFPs, even while the sector supports record numbers of Australians battling the cost-of-living crisis.

“As a result of these cost-of-living pressures, charities are experiencing increased demand – including from Australians who have never previously relied on that support.”

Senator Smith pointed to the Coalition's recent announcement that it would commit $50 million to allow food relief charities such as Foodbank, SecondBite and OzHarvest to expand their services to school breakfast programs as proof it is prepared to respond to the sector's needs.

“An elected Dutton Coalition government will genuinely listen to the sector, adopt practical initiatives to support it, and invest in its long-term growth and sustainability – because we understand the vital role it plays,” said Senator Smith.

The BERG process was kick-started with the release of an issues paper in November 2023 and included consultative roundtables involving 240 people and multiple departmental and government briefings.

The inquiry received 163 submissions, many of which were summarised in a synthesis report released in September, which articulated the most pressing issues.

The report lamented that many of the issues raised in response to the issues paper mirrored those that had been documented in past inquiries but left unaddressed.

“It is sadly notable that, with minor differences reflecting the current historic moment, the key priorities and themes articulated in these submissions mirror those in the 2010 consultation report for a National Compact between the Australian Government and Third Sector (2010).

“As widely observed in submissions and detailed by [Professor Myles] McGregor Lowndes (2023), this is but one of multiple consultations and formal inquiries, both recently and over the past 30 years in which charities and the wider NFP Sector have shared core challenges that require government actions and wider political commitments.”

Charities Minister Andrew Leigh last week thanked the BERG for its hard work on the Blueprint and said the government was considering the best next steps as part of its ongoing commitment to working with the sector on meaningful reform.

More information

Canberra fails to respond to sector reform blueprint