The Australian Vaccination-skeptics Network

[bluecat*dancing]

Good.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-18/australian-vaccination-skeptics-network-banned-from-charity-st...

''The Australian Vaccination-skeptics Network has been stripped of its registered charity status because potential misinformation could impact on children's health.

The controversial anti-immunisation group was last week forced to change its name from the Australian Vaccination Network because it was considered misleading.

The group actively campaigns against vaccinating children.''

[lloydslights]

So it seems their application for a registered Business Name was ultimately appealed by someone? In the meantime, they had applied and was granted charity status for that original named business. Then changed name to the skeptics title. 

????????????????????

Who authorizes the granting of a registered charity status?  It must be awfully easy to obtain.

DEB

[azureline**]

Charity has a special meaning under law. To be a charity, your organisation must:

• be a not-for-profit
• have a charitable purpose
• be for the public benefit (other than where the charitable purpose is the relief of poverty).

Examples of charities include: religious groups, not-for-profit aged care homes, homeless shelters, disability service organisations, universities and colleges, animal welfare societies and artistic or cultural groups.

Who determines charitable status?

From 3 December 2012

From 3 December 2012, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) registers organisations as charities. Registration as a charity is voluntary. However, your organisation must be registered with the ACNC to access any charity tax concessions from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

[punch*drunk]

Wow, how on earth would they qualify as any kind of charity in the first place? Nice to see it's been stopped, wonder how long they were collecting money under false pretences though....and what did they do with it I wonder?

[pct001wine]

The "Church" of Scientology has tax-exempt (religion) status .... bit off-topic, but work that out !

[azureline**]

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@punch*drunk wrote:

Wow, how on earth would they qualify as any kind of charity in the first place? Nice to see it's been stopped, wonder how long they were collecting money under false pretences though....and what did they do with it I wonder?

---

The ATO actually approved them before this change.

They probably qualified under the not for profit and for the public benefit. They seem to have many supporters.

[azureline**]

and further investigation shows that they gave it up voluntarily? so no being stripped of it, it seems.

the group had wanted to get rid of its charity licence for years, having spent countless hours and resources "jumping through hoops" to comply with the NSW Charitable Fundraising Act.

"We no longer see ourselves as a charitable organisation," Mr Beattie said. "We just don't fit into that mould."

Under the Act, a group can qualify as a charity — and avoid paying income tax on its donations — if it has any benevolent, philanthropic or patriotic purpose that relieves financial hardship, advances education or religion, or benefits the community.

Accounts show the AVN's total revenue for 2012 was $140,197 — including donations, membership fees and "other revenue".

[lakeland27]

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@pct001wine wrote:

The "Church" of Scientology has tax-exempt (religion) status .... bit off-topic, but work that out !

---

so do most. if we had a westborough outreach here they'd be eligible. fake 'research institutes' that are in fact lobbyists have the same tax free status. its actually odd that this group lost it's status, one doesn't have to be correct to have the status merely 'not for profit'

[lakeland27]

scrap the last part. Az post explains why. miss reported as happens so often.

[bluecat*dancing]

They were asked to respond in writing stating why their Authority to Fundraise should not be revoked. Rather than do so they surrendered their Authority to Fundraise instead.The Authority to Fundraise can be revoked if it is in the public's interest.

It s about time these crackpots are shown for the charlatans they are.