More than 20 Mandurah charities have had their status revoked in the past five years after failing to provide financial statements - despite "numerous reminders".
These include op shops, churches, wildlife rescues and health groups, which failed to submit their Annual Information Statements for more than two years.
An Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission spokesman said the most common way a charity loses its registration is by 'double defaulting'.
Each month we receive approximately 100 concerns about charities.
- Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission spokesman
"A double defaulter revocation takes place when a charity has failed to submit its Annual Information Statement for two years, despite numerous reminders," he said.
"We revoke the registration of charities in this category routinely to maintain the integrity of the charity register."
More than 15,000 organisations have had their charity licences revoked since the ACNC was established, in 2012.
There has been no formal investigations into any Mandurah charities since the ACNC was formed.
Revocation of charity status is the ACNC's most severe enforcement power, and strips an organisation of its entitlement to Commonwealth charity tax concessions.
- Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission spokesman
The spokesman said members of the public can raise issues if they had concerns about the operations of a charity, "including the use of donated funds".
"Each month we receive approximately 100 concerns about charities," he said.
"We take all concerns seriously, and where appropriate, we will investigate.
"Revocation of charity status is the ACNC's most severe enforcement power, and strips an organisation of its entitlement to Commonwealth charity tax concessions."
WA Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping said organisations or clubs collecting money or goods for charitable purposes required a licence.
"This state-based legislation aims to provide assurances that money received by charities is being spent appropriately, with only reasonable operating costs deducted," she said.
"There is no fee to obtain a licence and around 1600 charitable organisations are currently licensed in WA."
Ms Chopping said Consumer Protection monitored double defaulters, to check their licence status and if they had lodged appropriate accounts.
"We will also follow up on formal complaints if there are suspicions that someone is collecting without a licence or are not spending collected money on the charitable purpose, but this is a rare occurrence," she said.
Both the Annual Information Statements and annual financial reports provided by charities are made available to the public on an online charity register.
If you have concerns about a charity, contact Consumer Protection on 1300 304 054.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
