- Nearly 5,000 incorporated associations failing to meet obligations
- Groups must submit annual information statement every year to stay incorporated
- Volunteer groups urged to check their details
Nearly 5,000 incorporated associations around Western Australia are at risk of being deregistered for failing to provide information required under law.
The warning follows ongoing efforts by Consumer Protection to identify not-for-profit clubs and associations that are no longer operating, as evidenced by their failure to lodge their Annual Information Statement (AIS).
Western Australian not-for-profit groups at-risk of having their incorporated association status cancelled include, school parents and citizens associations, sporting clubs and religious organisations
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake said attempts had been made to contact those associations via email and notifications, highlighting the importance of updating contact details.
“Consumer Protection will never cancel an association without plenty of warnings and attempts to contact committee members, so it’s essential all details are up to date,” Ms Blake said.
“Deregistration means an association will lose its legal identity, its name protection and ability to use ‘incorporated’, its members risk personal liability for debts, and any remaining assets are seized by the State Government.”
“We strongly encourage all associations to keep their reporting current to avoid losing their registration.”
Consumer Protection has published a list of associations that need to submit their overdue Annual Information Statements (AIS) or face having their registration revoked.
Groups that are still operating need to complete their outstanding AIS immediately or Consumer Protection may take further action issuing a Show Cause Notice under the Act to commence cancellation.
Users will need an AssociationsOnline account to complete any outstanding AIS’s online or can email a manual form to infostatements@lgirs.wa.gov.au
For help with registering and linking an AssociationsOnline user account to an incorporated association, please contact aohelp@lgirs.wa.gov.au
Further information about the reporting responsibilities of incorporated associations is available on the Consumer Protection website. Enquiries can be made by calling 1300 30 40 74 or emailing associations@lgirs.wa.gov.au
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Media Contact: cpmedia@lgirs.wa.gov.au