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3 March 2010
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GIVE ALL BRIGADES TAX DEDUCTIBILITY ON DONATIONS
The Federal Government has advised that it will be legislating to extend Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status to all volunteer brigades nationally, as explained in the following media release from the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry.
This will mean that all brigades will be able to offer tax deductibility for donations received from the community.
This decision fully addresses RFSA’s recent concerns with the Australian Tax Office’s position on DGR for brigades, and will effectively remove any burden on individual brigades to prove their status.
The RFSA will keep a close watch on the implementation of these changes at Federal and State level, and provide more information to our members as it comes to hand.
GOVERNMENT EXTENDS TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION SUPPORT TO ALL VOLUNTEER BUSHFIRE BRIGADES
The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, has today announced the Government will change the tax law to help volunteer bushfire brigades attract more donations.
"The Rudd Government will extend tax deductible donation support to all volunteer bushfire
brigades," the Assistant Treasurer said.
"The memorial services earlier this month on the anniversary of the tragic Victorian bushfires highlighted the professionalism, selflessness and bravery of volunteer fire-fighters."
"Australia's volunteer fire-fighters perform an essential community service and they deserve all the help they can get to attract donations vital to their existence."
"There are more than 6,000 volunteer brigades in Australia – but less than a third can access tax deductible donations and that eligibility has recently come under question."
The volunteer fire brigades currently holding tax deductible status are considered public benevolent institutions (PBIs), that is, they are considered not-for-profit institutions organised for the direct relief of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability or helplessness.
Recent legal cases have led the Commissioner of Taxation to consider that volunteer brigades do not meet the strict PBI criteria.
"The Rudd Government will act to ensure not only those fire brigades that already access deductible donations remain capable of receiving tax deductible support, but we'll also extend such support to all volunteer bushfire brigades," said the Assistant Treasurer.
"Because of their outstanding community contribution, we believe volunteer fire brigades should be able to access support by tax deductible donations, so we are developing an alternative solution which will now benefit all 6,200 volunteer brigades."
The Government will immediately begin a process of consultation with the States and Territories on the best mechanism for extending deductible gift recipient (DGR) support to all brigades in a way that is consistent across jurisdictions and minimises overall administrative burden.
The removal of PBI status will not affect the tax status of the Country Fire Authority and Brigades Donation Funds nor the volunteer fire coordinating bodies, which are listed by name in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 as DGRs.
CANBERRA
28 February 2010
WHAT'S HAPPENING...
GRANT SCHEME 4
All Grant Scheme 4 application letters have now been mailed. Should you not receive a letter by next week, please contact the RFSA Head Office.
MEDIA RELEASE
7 DECEMBER 2009
RURAL FIRE SERVICE ASSOCIATION SLAMS UNION CLAIM OF ‘UNPROFESSIONAL’ VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS
The Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA) has strongly rejected claims from the NSW Fire Brigades Employees Union (FBEU) that volunteer rural fire fighters in NSW are ‘unprofessional’.
RFSA President Brian McKinlay said the FBEU’s comments were beneath contempt and without any foundation, and adversely reflected on the professionalism of all the State’s rural firefighters.
Mr McKInlay said the FBEU’s latest comments reflected a continued attack on the Rural Fire Service and its volunteers and was all about increasing its own membership with ‘no benefit to the community whatsoever’.
[CLICK HERE TO READ FULL MEDIA RELEASE]
Workers Compensation for Volunteer Fire Fighters
Status as at 12 October 2009
Background
· Volunteer Fire Fighters are covered for injury and loss of personal property during authorised activities under the Workers Compensation (Bush Fire, Emergency and Rescue Services) Act (the Act). This Act is administered on behalf of the Rural Fire Service by WorkCover NSW.
· Volunteer Fire Fighters are defined as any person who without payment or remuneration engages in appropriate authorised activities including fire fighting and hazard reduction.
· In the event of injury the appropriate accident report must in the first instance be submitted to the District/Zone or Team Manager.
· When an accident results in the death of a fire fighter a lump sum amount is paid to the widow or next of kin by WorkCover NSW. This lump sum is indexed twice yearly. In addition to the lump sum amount, weekly benefits are paid to any dependant children.
· n the event of injury all medical expenses are met and weekly benefits are paid during the period of incapacitation. Weekly benefits are based on average weekly earnings prior to the injury.
Self-Employed Volunteer Fire Fighters
· Following consideration of concerns raise by RFSA members, a policy has been put in place to assess average weekly earnings for self employed volunteers which takes into account variations in income and fluctuations in seasonal returns for farmers.
· Although it is acknowledged that the source of income derived by self funded retirees may not be affected in the event of injury, provision exists for individual situations to be assessed under special circumstances.
· A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been developed between the RFS and RFSA which ensures amongst other things, that the unique employment arrangements of volunteers are recognised in assessing weekly benefits. It is anticipated that this MOU will be signed shortly.
· One of the significant issues that the MOU will address is where it is necessary to consider weekly benefits beyond 26 weeks incapacitation (as prescribed by the Act). This issue is something that can cause great concern for those volunteers that may suffer long term injuries, with protracted incapacitation and rehabilitation, prior to returning to their normal pre-injury arrangements.
· In 2007, a Working Group comprising representatives from the RFS and RFSA was established to provide both a method and means by which policy and procedural issues affecting volunteers, like those raised above, are dealt with fairly and justly. The MOU is a key achievement for the Working Group, which will continue its work into the future.
30th September 2009
RFSA’S ALAN HOLLEY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF AUSTRALASIAN ASSEMBLY OF VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE ASSOCIATIONS
Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA) President Brian McKinlay was pleased to announce the election of Alan Holley, RFSA Vice President, as President of the Australasian Assembly of Volunteer Fire Brigade Associations (AAVFBA).
"Alan’s new position gives the RFSA a direct say in responding to the increasingly national political and policy agenda which affects emergency services volunteers and their agencies.
"His election to the AAVFBA leadership means that issues which matter to RFSA members will be clearly heard by the Commonwealth Attorney General and the Federal Government," Mr McKinlay said.
The AAVFBA is a volunteer organisation which represents volunteer fire fighting associations throughout Australia and New Zealand providing a platform to promote the interests of volunteer fire fighters.
The Assembly exists to develop strong networks across volunteer fire fighting associations. It is a conduit for national and international comment and a point of contact for Australasian representation which provides an alternative lobby group within a jurisdiction should a member association seek support.
"The future viability of volunteer fire fighting in Australasia is reliant to some degree on the strength and success of the AAVFBA.
"While individual associations will continue to lobby and represent the interests of their volunteers in their jurisdictions, it is at a national level in both Australia and New Zealand where significant change, improvement and increased capability will be achieved," RFSA Vice President Mr Holley said.
The NSW Rural Fire Service Association is a Statewide non-partisan, member association that represents the interest of the 70,000+ members of the world’s largest volunteer fire fighting service.
The Association ensures its members are taken into account in the decision making processes of the NSW Rural Fire Service.
One of the key elements of the Association is its governance structure, with representation drawn from sixteen Divisions covering New South Wales. So much has been, and continues to be, achieved by the Association which highlights the hard work and dedication of its members as the cornerstone of its success.
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