1. Incorporated Societies Bill
An update
March/April 2017

2. Progress to date
June 2013 – the Law Commission recommended a new Act to replace the Incorporated Societies Act 1908
February 2014 – Government agreed in its response
November 2015-June 2016 – draft Incorporated Societies Bill exposed for comment
Today – MBIE close to completing its analysis of the 116 submissions

3. Main themes in submissions
High level of support about the need for reform
Excessive compliance for small societies
Federal structures
Interface with other legislation
Model constitution/standard provisions

4. Support about the need for reform
The 1908 Act lacks any guidance about the obligations of those running societies
Much of what is legally necessary for running a society is not set out in the 1908 Act
The 1908 Act says little about how internal disputes should be dealt with

5. Excessive compliance
Access to information for members (clause 71) – too much potential to waste volunteers’ time
Financial reporting (clause 83) – compliance with accounting standards too onerous for very small societies

6. Federal structures Definition of “officer” may need to be narrowed
Revisit aspects of internal dispute resolution provisions

7. Interface with other legislation
Charitable Trusts Act (charitable societies only)
Employment Relations Act
Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act

8. Model constitution/standard provisions
Doesn’t work
Exploring other ways of being helpful
Guidance material
Constitution builder?

9. Next steps (optimistic)
April 2017 – MBIE to report to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs on submissions
June 2017 – Seek Cabinet decisions for changes
September 2017 – MBIE to send drafting instructions to Parliamentary Counsel Office
April 2018 – Bill introduced into Parliament
2019 – enactment
2021 – most provisions come into force
2023 – rest of the Act comes into force

10. Incorporated Societies Bill
Comments
Questions