House of Representatives
Extension of Charitable Purpose Bill 2004
Explanatory Memorandum
(Circulated by authority of the Treasurer, the Hon Peter Costello, MP)General outline and financial impact
Statutory extension of charity
The Extension of Charitable Purpose Bill 2004 provides a statutory extension to the common law meaning of 'charity' for the purposes of all Commonwealth legislation.
The statutory extension allows:
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- organisations providing child care to the public on a non-profit basis;
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- self-help bodies with open and non-discriminatory membership; and
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- closed or contemplative religious orders that offer prayerful intervention to the public,
to be treated as charities for the purposes of all Commonwealth legislation.
Date of effect: The amendments apply from 1 July 2004.
Proposal announced: This measure was announced in the Treasurer's Press Release No. 31 of 11 May 2004.
Financial impact: The estimated cost to revenue is $3 million in each year from 2005-2006.
Compliance cost impact: Nil.