On March 4 2016, the Federal Government announced that the Australian Charities and Not-for profits Commission (ACNC) will be retained. The announcement follows an extensive consultation period focusing on whether repealing or replacing the ACNC was a more viable option.

Minister for Social Services Christian Porter acknowledged that 'while there are a variety of views, within the charitable sector there is sufficient support for the retention of the ACNC'. In light of this, Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer recognised that the ACNC would need to continue to 'remove duplication and increase accountability and transparency', and signalled the government's intention to support this process.

The announcement has been welcomed by the not-for-profit sector as providing certainty to charities and not-for-profits as well as allowing the ACNC to focus on cutting red tape to ensure the regulatory burden is appropriate for these types of entities.

The ACNC currently regulates approximately 60,000 charities and not-for-profit organisations, having been implemented by the Federal Labor Government in 2012.

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