Christian megachurch Hillsong’s teaching arm has been slapped with new rules by Australia’s charity watchdog after an investigation into allegations of financial fraud.
Just before Christmas last year, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) published a list of enforceable undertakings for Hillsong College Limited and stated it was considering further agreements for other Hillsong Church charities. Christian Post first reported on the ACNC’s decision.
This came following a rare public statement from the ACNC in 2023 that it was looking into claims of “fraud, money laundering and tax evasion” made by independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie in Parliament. Hillsong Church denied these allegations, saying they “are in many respects wrong”.
The enforceable undertakings, first offered by Hillsong College in August, respond to concerns that came out of ACNC’s investigations, including failing to comply with charity standards.
These include requirements to act in the best interest of the charity, conflict of interest disclosures, record-keeping obligations, responsible financial management, and other obligations relating to its activities overseas.
In response, Hillsong College has committed to improving its meeting record-keeping, including disclosure of conflicts of interest, policies for managing conflicts of interest, and recording the nature of loans and services agreements with third parties. The college will also be required to meet charity standards relating to its international activities and financial statements.
On all of these undertakings, the college will have to report at six, 12 and 18 months about its progress.
A statement published by Hillsong Church in response acknowledged it has been “cooperating with” the ACNC.
“As part of those inquiries, and to demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement in governance, Hillsong Church and its ministries have agreed to resolve the inquiries of the ACNC by entering into compliance agreements, and for Hillsong College by providing an undertaking,” the statement says.
The church also claims that “the matters are resolved without findings of a contravention or any noncompliance with the act.” The ACNC has been contacted for comment.
Wilkie slammed the ACNC’s decision as “pathetic”. “The commission is effectively saying it will forget about the extraordinary alleged wrongdoing in Hillsong so long as the church promises to be good from now on,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
Hillsong College is a registered training organisation that offers online and in-person undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, boasting 14,000 graduates through its 30 years of operation. It’s also come under scrutiny after investigations into its teachings and discrimination.
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