Moved to Forum: Original Link
Just saw this on the SMH.
“supermarket giant Coles announced on Thursday it would contribute $2 for every $1 donated by customers in-store to the Red Cross”
Much better than the amex deal, as (a lot)more money goes towards the Red Cross.
Update: Facebook Post
I have a deep seated hatred for any large retailer giving you the option to donate money at a till (for them to reduce their tax liability, rather than caring for charity), but this is at least a good gesture - not just digging into the bottomless coffers but giving individuals an incentive to contribute. A rare good call from Colesworth.
Some good reading here about their donations which should be highlighted - pallets of food, milk etc to those in need, not just money
In Batemans Bay, some team members came in despite the store being closed to bake bread rolls and roast chickens to donate to relief centres
Not only that, but it also means people who donate cannot use it as tax offset
I wonder if the likelihood of Coles giving the money to the Red Cross will be as likely as when Coles were caught out not giving the farmers the milk levy funds?
I would be skeptical about the deal.
I would rather donate the $3 directly to a smaller charity than give to the Red Cross. The people that need it will probably only see $1 out of the $3 donated anyway.
If that’s the case your $1 went to the people who need it and all the people who work to support the effort gets paid. Unlike any other charities whom presumably don’t pay anyone since it all has to go to need.
Simplistic I'm afraid. Red Cross and many other major charities have experience, logistical knowledge and contacts to ensure you dollars are well-spent. Money donated is to help RC provide services to a wide range of people. That has obvious overheads. Putting a few dollars in the pockets of victims at this stage would be pointless
I know people that lost everything in the Black Saturday fires that had no help from Red Cross even though over 300 million was raised, which is why I'll no longer donate to them.
I’m wondering if those people you know asked for help from Red Cross were denied help, or that RC just didn’t offer it them?
If it’s the former, I’ll be concerned too
Large organisations make mistakes so it's possible your claim is true but I'm more than skeptical given both your comments here. There are also people who have unreasonable expectations and others who make ambit claims after every disaster. The latter are little different to looters.
Irrespective, you need to be far more specific than that, and given you've made the statement and don't accept PMs you need to come back and answer the question.
$300M is a drop in the ocean to cover all needs. Insurance payouts alone were well above $4B which gives some idea of the enormity of the disaster.
"The Black Saturday bushfires killed 173 people, 120 in the Kinglake area alone. Another 414 people were injured. More than 450,000 hectares had burned and 3,500 buildings including more than 2000 houses destroyed. The RSPCA estimated that up to one million wild and domesticated animals died in the disaster."
Here's a small extract from RC's pages reflecting on that disaster: Ten years on from the Victorian Bushfires. You will probaby be surprised by the 'bolded' part.
People donated $380 million in support of those affected. Red Cross and the Victorian Government established the independent Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund Panel to distribute funds. Every single cent and accrued interest went to helping affected individuals and families, whether it was support for orphaned children, helping rebuild homes, or community determined recovery initiatives.
It is a good sounding offer, as long as Coles does pass this on (unlike the drought levy on milk which they didn't).
At least it is going to the Red Cross appeal. Some other 'donations' are not so straight forward:
- The $70m. 'donation' from Twiggy Forrest contains $10m. to the Red Cross. The rest remains under his foundation's control.
- The AFL's so-called State of Origin fundraiser, and initial contribution of $2.5m, is similarly structured. An initial amount of $1m (combined from the AFL, the AFL clubs and players) is going to the Red Cross. The remainder will apparently remain in an AFL-controlled 'community relief fund' to help rebuild football clubs. I'm sure I read yesterday that the rebuilding would be in Vic and NSW (no mention of other states), but I can't find that now. No mention of how any costs or income for the related broadcast rights would be handled.
Can't see anything wrong with either setup myself. Money is required for immediate relief but much more will be required once the fires are out and plans are established to help communities recover and rebuild.
I don't have a problem (obviously) to the immediate funds to the Red Cross.
Maybe I'm not trusting enough in those two donors that all of that funding will be put to the best possible use in the best possible timeframe.
What is the "best possible use" and "best possible timeframe"? Both of those will be determined long after the event. Can't see any reason whatsoever why you wouldn't trust the Forrests and the AFL to do the right thing. The Brisbane Greens Councillor who criticised Forrest needs a reality check and a good kick up the @rse. Here's some info on their foundation: https://www.minderoo.com.au/ .
@[Deactivated]: Re the Forrest foundation:
An amount of $10m. is for travel and accommodation expenses for specialised volunteers from WA to assist firefighting operations and recovery efforts in Qld, Vic, NSW and SA, in response to direct requests from relevant authorities and communities. Surely there needs to be a coordination of where those (and other) resources will be best utilised, rather than direct requests from communities; some will surely miss out unless this is centrally controlled.
The further amount of $50m. (with a view to solicit raising $500m.) is to convene leading experts to develop a globally relevant national blueprint for fire and disaster resilience. Great. But this is exactly what a federal government should be doing. And if we are heading towards a Royal Commission etc., wouldn't we want to see the outcomes of that before we fund this project (which is no doubt needed) so that we don't duplicate efforts, or leave gaps between multiple efforts.
@GG57: The background is all there on the website. Understand your concerns - it's a very complex problem - but I have no doubt they're well aware of duplication of services and it seems clear they will be taking advice and direction from others. Part of Colvin's job will be to identify priorities and major task groups (eg cleanup, re-building, services, animals, plants, "future proofing", etc and that each affected area is managed by people who understand local needs. Not an easy task with conflicting priorities and requests from a large number of competing local areas. In turn that framework should help ensure funds from a range of sources are spent wisely. No doubt mistakes will occur. One thing they will have to watch is building costs. The BER in NSW saw taxpayers ripped off badly through lack of oversight.
That a number of different funding sources exist has pros and cons but if I was in Minderee's situation I certainly wouldn't be handing over money without oversight to any govt-appointed body. No single person or group has a monopoly on wisdom or ideas.
$10 million to mobilise specialist volunteers from Western Australia, $10 million in immediate bushfire relief funding and a $50 million investment to support the development of a long-term blueprint for fire resilience were today announced by philanthropic organisation Minderoo Foundation.
Minderoo Foundation founders Andrew and Nicola Forrest said the unprecedented bushfire season, with large fires burning across the country, had devasted families, communities, industries and wildlife.
“With incredible courage and determination, Australians have united to help those devastated by these bushfires,” Andrew Forrest AO said.
“We can all be proud of the efforts we have witnessed across the country to support those fighting the bushfires, those affected by them, and those seeking to provide support to people and wildlife. We extend our deepest sympathy and hope to all those affected.
“At Minderoo Foundation, we want to provide immediate relief because, like so many other West Australians, we mourn the hardships of our fellow countrymen and women. We recognise that we don’t have all the answers, but we want to understand what communities need and do our bit to help them now and as they regroup in the coming months.”
Nicola Forrest said the tragic loss of lives, the scale of the destruction of homes and properties and the devastation to Australia’s unique landscape were difficult for many Australians to comprehend.
“In the weeks and months ahead, people directly impacted by these fires will need both practical and emotional support,” Nicola Forrest AO said.
“They will need time to grieve their loss and to deal with the trauma of the experience and they will need practical help to start the process of rebuilding their lives. While rubble that was once someone’s home might now be unrecognisable, it is still home.
“Beneath the ash, memories still exist, and these should be treasured. We hope Minderoo Foundation’s contribution will complement existing efforts, provide hope to those hurting and encourage others to help in any way they can – big or small.”
Minderoo Foundation’s Fire Fund comprises three distinct areas – response, recovery and resilience.
RESPONSE
Minderoo Foundation has committed to mobilise volunteers from Western Australia to assist firefighting operations and recovery efforts in Queensland, Victoria, NSW and South Australia, in response to direct requests from relevant authorities and communities. At least 1250 volunteers are expected to be needed.
Travel and accommodation expenses for these specialised volunteers – including firefighters, medics, tradespeople, mental health workers and ground clean up personnel – will be covered by Minderoo Foundation. Minderoo Foundation will also leverage its networks in Western Australia to rally volunteers, equipment, supplies and funding, particularly from the resources and agriculture industries.
Minderoo Foundation has committed $10 million to fund the Response stream and will encourage others to donate, both locally and abroad, to at least match this amount.
This Response stream of work will be led by Chris Mayfield OAM, a former member of the Australian Regular Army who spent 26 years in senior leadership positions, including overseas deployments leading large teams throughout South East Asia and the Middle East. Chris is being seconded from Fortescue Metals Group where he is the Manager Training and Development.
RECOVERY
The Minderoo Foundation Fire Fund project will help support communities rebuild and revitalise local economies in the aftermath of the bushfires.
The initiative will provide funds directly to communities, in collaboration with organisations such as Australian Red Cross and The Salvation Army, with all administration costs covered by Minderoo.
Minderoo Foundation has committed $10 million to start the Recovery fund and will encourage others to donate, both locally and abroad, to at least match this amount. The Minderoo Foundation Fire Fund project is now open for public donations at firefund.org.
The funding will be used to support the needs that typically emerge as communities regroup after a disaster, including repairing infrastructure, supporting local businesses, caring for wildlife and livestock or providing equipment essential to the recovery efforts.
Working with local organisations and alongside experts in relief and recovery including Australian Red Cross and The Salvation Army, Minderoo Foundation will consult with communities in the regions most affected by the bushfires to determine how best to assist, beginning in NSW (North Coast region, South Coast region, Southern Ranges), Victoria
(Gippsland, Hume) and South Australia (Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island).
Minderoo Foundation previously provided assistance in the wake of the dreadful Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria in 2009, the 2011 Queensland floods, the 2016 bushfire in Yarloop, Western Australia and other disasters. Andrew Forrest has assembled an experienced team to manage this stream of work.
RESILIENCE
Minderoo Foundation’s Fire Fund project will also invest in building long term resilience by convening leading experts to develop a globally relevant national blueprint for fire and disaster resilience.
With the support of leading international non-profit environmental organisation Conservation International, these efforts will draw on existing research and expertise in Australia and overseas and accelerate innovation to develop new approaches to mitigate bushfires.
Focus areas could include climate change, mental health, science and technology, environmental conservation, water security and land management, among others. It is intended the project will address the factors that contribute to and cause natural disasters and the considerations that govern our response to such crises.
The project will also work to pilot new practices and invest in the application of evidence-based techniques and strategies. It will be led by Adrian Turner, an experienced international executive and founding CEO of CSIRO’s Data61, the data and digital specialist arm of Australia’s national science agency.
Minderoo Foundation will establish this project in early 2020 and launch a global effort to engage contributors and funders to raise approximately $500 million. Minderoo Foundation will kick start this fundraising effort with a $50 million commitment.
Minderoo Foundation CEO Andrew Hagger said the work of Minderoo Foundation’s Fire Fund project would commence with a small team visiting some of the worst hit communities in coming days.
“The first step is for us to listen, to ensure our efforts meet community needs and build on the great work already underway,” Andrew Hagger said.
“We want to work in collaboration with all the organisations and government agencies which are providing the crucial support needed to help people come to terms with the losses and start the rebuilding process.”
But it IS being passed on, just not in the way you apparently would like it to be - which given it's their money, not yours, doesn't seem to be any of your business…
As per my above response comment, maybe I'm not trusting enough in those two donors that all of that funding will be put to the best possible use in the best possible timeframe.
Coles only paid the outstanding funds to Norco Dairy when the ACCC intervened, and promised to pay a lump sum in early December 2019 (for the payments that should have been made for April - December 2019) to avoid a court case and potential penalties.
why does this story sound familiar to me?
…. and $3 to a dairy farmer ….