Revelations this week that some major charities are holding back donated funds from Australians in desperate need of help has been met with rightful anger and condemnation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is inconceivable to think that organisations such as Red Cross Australia believe it is ethically acceptable to drip feed the almost half a billion dollars hard-working people are gathering to help their mates in crisis.
Generous Australians don't expect their cash to be sitting idle gaining interest or be soaked up by the millions to help these charities cover "administration costs".
There are clear-cut expectations of any charity receiving donations for bushfire victims - all money should be passed on with little delay.
And if not, the big charities risk losing the faith of the Australian people and therefore a decline in donations they receive as "more friendly" charities rise in prevalence.
But it is important Australians are donating to national Bushfire Recovery Agency registered charities and not criminals looking to make a quick buck in the wake of a disaster.
There are about 70 registered organisations raising funds for the recovery effort that people can trust and national watchdogs have asked people to do their homework before handing cash and goods over at all times as scammers have no conscience.
Anyone collecting or distributing funds or items should be held to account with a traceable trail of where and when the donations have been distributed.
The generosity of many Tasmanians and their fellow countrymen has been outstanding with many individuals and organisations hosting events in support.
It is liberating that people want to go out of their way to support people they have never met, but feel their pain through the stories told in these pages, on the television and across the airwaves.
The goodwill within the community should be celebrated and that is why The Examiner is committed to helping where we can in promoting the many events taking place.
Keep up the awesome work, just be careful who you donate to.