The Federal Government has released draft model rules for registered organisations in a bid to help them comply with financial transparency and accountability standards introduced last year.

Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten, said that the model rules deal directly with the requirements of registered organisations to provide for policies about expenditure, disclosure of remuneration paid to officers, material person interests of officers and payments made by the organisation.

“The draft model rules will assist registered organisations to comply with the Government’s more rigorous requirements to provide greater transparency to members of these organisations and to improve public confidence in all registered organisations,” said Mr Shorten.

“We now have the strongest laws governing employee and employer organisations that Australia has ever had.”

“The model rules are designed to assist registered organisations to comply with the higher standards of accountability and transparency imposed by this Government.”

“The Government has also implemented stronger compliance measures like tripling of penalties and stronger investigative powers for the regulator.”

A panel comprising representatives of National Workplace Relations Consultative Committee members worked in consultation with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to prepare the draft model rules. The Fair Work Commission was also consulted in the development of the rules.

“I want to acknowledge the work of the National Workplace Relations Consultative Committee in assisting to draft the model rules; particularly the drafting panel members from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ACTU, Australian Industry Group and National Farmers’ Federation,” Mr Shorten said.

The draft Guidelines Containing Model Rules in the Government Notices Gazette can be accessed at: www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2013G00378.