Watchdog’s probe into Shane Warne Foundation to continue despite closure

UPDATE: THE charity watchdog’s probe into cricket legend Shane Warne’s charity will proceed despite its closure.

Shane Warne Foundation Meeting with board members of the foundation . Talking to media... L TO R : Glenn Robbins, Eddie McGuire, Shane Warne and David Evans. Picture : Mike Keating.

THE charity watchdog’s probe into cricket legend Shane Warne’s charity will proceed despite its closure.

The Shane Warne Foundation has announced it is shutting down, blaming “recent, unwarranted speculation” about how much of its proceeds reached the needy.

In a statement, the board said it had distributed more than $3.67 million since beginning in 2004; a final cheque will go to an undecided beneficiary after a final board meeting on March 18.

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Warne said he was very proud of the “significant difference” the foundation had made to children’s lives.

“People thinking otherwise is very disappointing and sad.

“Also, the notion that we threw parties is just ridiculous. Our events were all about trying to raise as much money as we could to donate to children in need,” Warne said.

Shane Warne Foundation board members Glenn Robbins, Andrew Bassat, Eddie McGuire, Shane Warne, David Evans and Ann Peacock. Picture: Mike Keating.

“We are all good people. We never did anything untoward or inappropriate, and also never received a cent.”

Warne’s overseas commitments are said to have influenced the decision to close the foundation. Some close to the charity blame media coverage, and say events-based fundraising is a crowded market.

In December, Consumer Affairs Victoria director Simon Cohen ordered the foundation to do a comprehensive, independent audit after it failed to provide “sufficient documents” by a deadline. The audit, dating back 3½ years, is to be done by the end of next month.

If CAV were to find any serious breaches of fundraising laws, the charity would have faced deregistration.

Sources familiar with the CAV probe believe the agency wants more information from the charity to ensure it has been meeting the 29.5 per cent annual target.

The foundation’s fundraising permit was modified last year to include special conditions that allow it to distribute just 29.5 per cent of its proceeds.

Any charity that intends to give away less than 35 per cent must have the green light from CAV to do so.

It allows this where a charity can “show cause” it has particularly high operating costs.

Warne is in the South African jungle for TV show I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! .