Treasury has released a consultation paper on reform of charitable fundraising regulation.

The purpose of this discussion paper is to seek comments on a proposed framework for a new nationally consistent approach to regulation of charitable fundraising. At present, every State and Territory of Australia, with the exception of the Northern Territory, separately regulates fundraising by charities. Appendix A sets out the current State and Territory fundraising legislation.

The discussion paper calls for comments on:

• Defining fundraising activities that are to be regulated
• Activities that might be exempt from fundraising regulation
• Implementing a national approach to fundraising regulation
• Registering for fundraising activities
• Application of consumer protection laws to charitable fundraising
• Charitable fundraising and unsolicited selling provisions of the Australian Consumer Law
• Information disclosure at the time of giving
• Information disclosure after the time of giving
• Internet and electronic fundraising
• Fundraising by third parties on behalf of charities./li>