Celeste Barber: court rules $51m bushfire appeal money can be spent only on NSW Rural Fire Service
Millions of dollars raised by the comedian Celeste Barber for bushfire relief cannot be given to charities other than the New South Wales Rural Fire Service or to other states, the NSW supreme court has ruled.
The comedian raised $51.3m in January, nominating the RFS and Brigades Donation Fund trust as the recipient.
But the deed governing the trust permits the money to be spent only on equipment, training and administrative costs.
As Barber’s fundraising effort grew in January, she promised the money would be spread to also help people in other states and victims other than firefighters.
“It’s going to the RFS and it will be distributed out,” she posted on Instagram. “I’m going to make sure that Victoria gets some, that South Australia gets some, also families of people who have died in these fires, the wildlife.
“I’m hearing you all. I want you to know that, otherwise why raise this money if it’s not going to go to the people who absolutely need it.”
Justice Michael Slattery ruled that injured firefighters and the families of firefighters killed in the bushfires could receive money from Barber’s fund, but other charities could not.
The advice applies to all other organisations – whether in NSW or elsewhere in Australia – which provide relief to people or animals affected by the bushfires, Slattery said.
The money can also be used to provide physical and mental health support and on courses to improve skills related to volunteer-based fire and emergency service activities.
In January Barber prompted an outpouring of goodwill and donations from across the world when she launched the “Please help anyway you can. This is terrifying” appeal on Facebook.
She initially set a funding target of $30,000.
But Barber – who boasts 7.1 million followers on Instagram – raised $51.3m, which is the largest charity drive in Facebook’s history.
The NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donations Fund went to the su
preme court seeking clarity on the use of the money according to its April 2012 trust deed.
Slattery answered their four questions and ordered the parties’ legal costs to be paid out of the RFS Fund.
In a statement following the judgment, Barber said she had hoped the money could go to other states and charities because it was such a large amount, but it “turns out that studying acting at university does not make me a lawmaker”.
“So the money will be in the very capable, very grateful hands of the NSW RFS.”
She thanked everyone who donated, and said volunteer firefighters were “rockstars like no other”.
“You will never know the depth and breadth of our gratitude.”