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The National Fundraising Principles
The National Fundraising Principles are a set of 16 nationally consistent conduct requirements agreed to by the Commonwealth, state, and territory governments in February 2023.
The purpose of these principles is to streamline fundraising rules across Australia, reducing administrative work for charitable organisations and making it easier for them to comply with different state-based regimes.
Implementation of the National Fundraising Principles
While these principles were agreed nationally, they must be implemented individually by each state and territory. Different jurisdictions have adopted the National Fundraising Principles in different ways, and implementation remains incomplete in some parts of Australia.
As at September 2026, implementation remains incomplete in some jurisdictions:
- ACT – the National Fundraising Principles apply (through the Charitable Collections (National Fundraising Principles) Determination 2024) to all organisations holding an ACT charitable collections licence (including ACNC-registered entities with a deemed licence)
- New South Wales – the National Fundraising Principles apply (from 1 April 2026) to authority holders (including, but not limited to, ACNC-registered charities)
- Northern Territory – the National Fundraising Principles do not apply (there is no charitable fundraising law in the NT)
- Queensland – the National Fundraising Principles do not apply yet (although the Queensland government has announced that it plans to adopt the Principles)
- South Australia – the National Fundraising Principles apply to licensed fundraisers (including, but not limited to, ACNC-registered charities). South Australia implemented the principles through its Charities Code of Practice, which applies to all collectors authorised under the Collections for Charitable Purposes Act 1939 (SA).
- Tasmania – the National Fundraising Principles do not currently apply. However, the Charities and Associations Law (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2025, which passed the Tasmanian Parliament on 11 September 2026, will introduce a mandatory Code of Practice based on the National Fundraising Principles. The start date for these reforms has not yet been announced.
- Victoria – the National Fundraising Principles apply, but only to deemed registered fundraisers (ACNC-registered charities). For fundraisers that are not ACNC-registered charities, other conduct obligations apply under Victorian fundraising laws.
- Western Australia – the National Fundraising Principles apply from 1 August 2026 through a mandatory Charities Code of Conduct contained in Schedule 1A of the Charitable Collections Regulations 1947 (WA). The Code applies to organisations holding a WA charitable collections licence and to ACNC‑registered charities fundraising under the deemed licensing regime. Compliance with the Code is a condition of fundraising authorisation in Western Australia.
The National Fundraising Principles now apply in the ACT, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, and apply in Victoria to deemed registered fundraisers (ACNC‑registered charities). Tasmania has passed legislation to introduce a mandatory Code of Practice based on the National Fundraising Principles, but those reforms have not yet started. Queensland has not yet implemented the Principles.
See our guide to fundraising laws in Australia for more information.
Our campaign to #FixFundraising
In early 2023, a significant step was taken towards simplifying fundraising regulations in Australia. State and Territory governments committed to adopting National Fundraising Principles, promising a more harmonised approach across the country. However, progress has been slow.
The content on this webpage was last updated in September 2026 and is not legal advice. See full disclaimer and copyright notice.
