Source: Office of the Prime Minister of Australia, Hon. Kevin Rudd, MP

Media Release

Media Release with the
Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Ursula Stephens

National Compact with the Non-Profit Sector

03 October 2008

The Rudd Government is close to finalising the first stage of consultations to develop an historic National Compact with the non-profit sector.

The Compact is part of the government’s reform program to build an Australia for the 21st century.

“The Compact will represent our commitment to work in partnership with non-profit organisations to build stronger communities and improve the lives of all Australians,” Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.

Similar compacts or partnerships have worked well overseas to provide a mechanism for discussion and agreement on important issues, including providing better services to local communities, families and individuals.

The non-profit sector includes community groups, sporting associations and peak not for profit bodies which help create strong, active and connected communities.

At the end of June 2007, there were 40,976 ABN registered not-for-profit organisations in Australia, as well as 600,000 organisations that would not fall within the ABN registration requirements.

“We are now finalising the first phase of consultations with the non-profit sector – these have taken place in Sydney, Perth, Hobart, Adelaide, Townsville, Brisbane, Darwin and Alice Springs with consultations scheduled for Melbourne and the ACT next week,” Mr Rudd said.

These consultations have been jointly led by Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, and the Australian Council of Social Service.

“Many matters have been raised during the consultations including the importance of the Compact as vehicle for change, an opportunity to redefine the non-profit sector’s relationship with Government,” Mr Rudd said.

“A National Compact would build on initiatives already commenced to improve the relationship between community organisations and Government and to help them do their important work:

We have acted to end the use of ‘confidentiality clauses' in funding contracts which stopped organisations from speaking to the media.

We have commenced discussions with State and Territory Governments to reduce the red tape burden on non-profit organisations so they can focus on the needs of the individuals and families they serve.

We have also asked the Productivity Commission to construct a new tool to measure the contribution of the non-profit sector to communities and the economy, including the value of volunteers,” Mr Rudd said.