Leaving a bequest to the Australia Defence Association in your Will helps ensure real public debate concerning the strategic security of your children, grandchildren and other future Australians.
Introduction
Australia's current and future strategic security has long been regarded as the first responsibility of any government.
But, because there a few or no votes now in properly meeting this responsibility, this principle generally gets insufficient attention by Australian governments of all political persuasions.
Particularly where governments succumb to short-term thinking, such as diverting defence investment elsewhere would earn them a partisan electoral advantage within the current electoral or budgetary cycles.
By continually cutting or postponing the regular and sustained investment in our national defence infrastructure that they should be making, our governments end up gambling with the long-term security and well-being of our children, grandchildren and other future descendants.
This is a serious inter-generational inequity issue both practically and morally.
-
Not paying our fair share now of the long-term and sustained investment needed in Australia’s strategic security means future Australians will eventually have to pay much more in taxes to fix our indifference and neglect.
-
Unlike us though they may not have sufficient time to do it before a crisis hits them.
-
We are also needlessly exposing them to greater strategic risk, both in terms of weakened deterrence and significant consequences if our gambling with their future goes wrong
How bequests help
Current and future governments, and indeed our fellow Australians, need to be held to account for the longer-term risks and the potentially catastrophic results they are needlessly inflicting on future Australians.
As the Australian community's relevant, independent, and non-partisan national public-interest watchdog organisation for strategic security, defence and wider national security issues the ADA fights for appropriate government and community attention to meeting these long-term national responsibilities.
But we cannot do our public-interest job without the commitment of financial support from our fellow Australians.
Please consider leaving a bequest to the ADA in your Will.
Types of bequest
Your bequest can comprise property or money and can be one or more of three broad types:
- a single amount of funds or property left to the ADA once only;
- an amount of funding donated annually (or more frequently as specified in your Will) to the ADA by a Testamentary Trust established by your Will, either for that purpose or in conjunction with other purposes; or
- a single amount or property left to the ADA for investment as principal so that the ensuing income supports, in perpetuity, an annual scholarship, award or research sponsorship administered by the ADA.
In the first two types of bequest, the bequest can be a general one for use as decided by the ADA Board of Directors as per their fiduciary duties under our Constitution and the Corporations Act.
Or, particularly with larger bequests, you may choose to specify that the sum or property involved be invested as principal in a long-term deposit or investment (a capital bequest) – with only the interest or other income earned used to fund continuing ADA operations.
With the third type of bequest you can also, should you desire, specify the purpose and criteria for a scholarship, award or sponsorship funded by your bequest.
But please consult with our national office before deciding on such matters to avoid duplication with other bequests or Association operations.
Should you desire to appoint trustees for a Testamentary Trust dedicated solely to supporting the work of the ADA the Association is happy to help you with advice on potential trustees from among our broad membership throughout the community.
Forms of bequest
A basic bequest can be made by including one or both of the the following passages in the relevant part of your Will or as a codicil (change) to an existing Will:
I bequeath to the Australia Defence Association (ABN 16 083 007 390) the sum of [insert figure in numerals and words here] to assist in the Association's public-interest research, education and advocacy activities regarding Australia's strategic security, defence and wider national security.
I bequeath to the Australia Defence Association (ABN 16 083 007 390) the following property [insert a description or listing of the property here] to assist in the Association's public-interest research, education and advocacy activities regarding Australia's strategic security, defence and wider national security.
More complicated bequests might need the advice and assistance of a solicitor.
It can also help with more complicated bequests if you refer to the ADA Constitution in your Will and attach a copy.
Further information
If you interested in making a bequest to the ADA in your Will please contact our national office in Canberra on (02) 6231-4444.
Back to Fundraising
