Dear Registered Users and Celebrant Colleagues:

I've loaded the full program under What's New:

NOTE: You must RSVP if you want to attend.

TIMES:
12 noon to 2 pm
4 pm to 6 pm
5 pm to 7pm
No evening consultations !!
Cheers
Rona

LATEST NEWS: The Attorney General's Department has published the Consultations times here on:
http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Pa ... ramReforms

For latest up-dates please consult the Attorney General's website on the link above

Consultations to commence in October 2011

MELBOURNE:
4- 6 pm Tuesday 4th October 2011
12-2 pm Tuesday 4th October 2011

OTHER STATES:

SEE: What's New:
http://www.accn-celebrants.com.au/whats ... sultations

I am interested in gaining some feedback from other Celebrants regarding the new "Professional Celebrant Fee".

I am quite concerned by the possible implications of this fee on Celebrants and most importantly couples. The Attorney Generals department has refused to let it be known what the exact value is that it is expecting to earn from this fee, although some figures suggest around the $500 to $600 mark. To deny celebrants the information prior to consultation sessions is hardly just! How can we prepare ourselves with questions and counter information without knowing just what they have in mind.

I have completed both the old and new Cert IVs and have put a lot of money into my training however I choose, as do others not to charge large amounts for my ceremonies. This fee will have a huge impact on celebrants like myself, and those that do charge larger amounts as we are all going to need to recoup atleast some of our costs.

This charge will have to be forwarded on to the Couples without a Doubt. I have personally begun contact members of parliament and media outlets to guage opinion on this new fee and more and more are beginning to agree this appears to be more like an "Australian Marriage Tax"

For decades the Attorney Generals Department has continued to administer the Celebrants program without hint of a problem. From an administrative point of view they monitor our OPD and registrations, but they do not really produce that much material for us. We pay CANPRINT for our literature and other needs with our own money (with exception to happily ever before and after).

I am hoping as Celebrants we can "band together" fight this new tax on love and marriage in Australia!!!

It is unfortunate that for someone like myself that really does not officiate many ceremonies that this cost will firstly have to be worn by myself and then passed onto the couples I am involved with. It may be that I would have to give up being a marriage celebrant because of the cost involved. Maybe that's what the department is attempting to accomplish in a backhanded way. Weed out those whom can't afford it which doesn't necessarily leave those who are good at what they do.

I do AGREE with all that's been said. And again, I too may have to give it up as I do not perform that many wedding ceremonies per year also, as I offer my services for free or at a low cost to those who are in a REAL need; which is usuall when they have not long to live, or from other difficulties. Though as I reflect back when the government first opened the floodgates in allowing more celebrants to enter, they may have had this plan or along, to create a fee which will be introduced at a later date ... the more celebrants the better the cash flow ?

But as I did say before, this fee will definitely force celebrants in having to raise their charges ... NOT only for weddings but for all services. So who WINS and who LOSES?

Maybe we should get a petition going. Bring this to the attention of EVERYONE.