Three Queensland organisations have been stripped of their charity status, after the Australian charities and not for profit commission (ACNC) found serious breaches of conduct.
Young People for Tomorrow Ltd, The Trustee for the First 24 Hrs Foundation and Mununjali Traditional Custodians Ltd will all lose their status.
“Revocation of charity status is reserved for the most serious of cases. We prefer to educate charities and support them to improve where appropriate,” the commissioner Susan Pascoe said.
“However, we will act firmly and quickly where there is evidence of serious mismanagement or misappropriation, a serious, persistent or deliberate breach of the ACNC Act, or where vulnerable people or significant charitable assets are at risk,” she said.
Founder of disaster management and emergency planning organisation, The First 24 Hrs Foundation, Eddy Andrews, told Guardian Australian that the group had had its status revoked due to “procedural” problems.
He said he had informed the regulator of “irregularities” within his organisation, which is run by volunteers, when an audit was undertaken at the beginning of 2014.
Andrews said that he would start the trust again after a “restructure”. The charity had been running since 1992, according to its website.
Andrews said that the foundation focussed on transparency.
“The First 24 Hour Foundation is unique, because unlike other foundations, their bank statements will be posted online so you can track exactly where funds go,” documents posted online by Andrews said.
“This transparency will allow you to see where your money has gone towards such things as training and research scholarships, helping support disaster response teams and provide funding for research and development,” the document said.
No bank statements could be found on the charity’s website on Thursday morning.
The founder of the charity was only informed of the revocation by phone on Monday, but “still haven’t had any formal confirmation” via writing, he said.
In January, another charity linked with Andrews was delisted by the commission, this time for failing to fulfill its reporting requirements.
The Foundation for Public Safety Professionals had “come into the [First 24 Hrs Foundation] group last year”, Andrews said.
“The Foundation of Public Safety Professionals is a non-profit organisation set up by emergency personnel around the world,” online documents promoting the charity said.
“Our aim is inform individuals of public safety by distributing a family safety plan into every home.”
The charity had been criticised in 2008 when it invited gangland figure Roberta Williams to speak as keynote speaker for a fundraising breakfast. Guests were charged $68 a head to hear the ex-wife of crime boss Carl Williams speak.
The charity stumped up for four nights’ accommodation for Williams and her three children for the Gold Coast event.
The ACNC had revoked the status of six charities since it came into operation two years ago. More than 6,000 have been delisted.
