Incorporated association laws and administration

NSW Fair Trading administers the laws for incorporated associations.

The laws are:

• Associations Incorporation Act 2009
• Associations Incorporation Regulation 2022

Under these laws NSW incorporated associations must register with NSW Fair Trading.

The Act governs the establishment, operation, and the ending of incorporated associations.

Administration of the laws

NSW Fair Trading has several policies to support incorporated associations laws. These policies:

• inform the public about the law and its administration  
• provide a framework for consistent decision-making by NSW Fair Trading officers. 

Policies related to the laws include:

• Appointment of an administrator under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009. This policy:
  • explains when the Commissioner may appoint an administrator
  • lists the factors to consider in the decision.
• Determining names for Incorporated Associations under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009. This policy:
  • explains how to judge an association's proposed word or name
  • guides NSW Fair Trading officers in making those judgments.
• Financial threshold for Incorporated Associations under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009. This policy sets the financial limit for NSW Fair Trading when registering or maintaining an incorporated association.