A Facebook fundraising program, created by Australian comedian Celeste Barber, is now under controversy. The foundation aimed to help in funding the recoveries in the past events of a devastating Australian bushfire. More than 1 billion mammals, birds, and reptiles were likely to lose their lives during the incident. Unfortunately, the fund won't be able to help these animals.
Australian bushfire's biggest Facebook fundraising
At the start of the year, Australia experienced a major catastrophe after several bushfires were reported in the country. Around 25.5 million acres were burned down, which was about the size of South Korea.
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To help all the fire facilities, communities, and other emergency services in the incident, Barbers sets up a Facebook fundraising program. This program ended for quite some time now, but it had already reached over $51 million.
The collected money was said to be spent not only for the firefighters but for the people that lost a family member or homes during the bushfire. It also prioritizes the rehabilitation of the wildlife community.
However, the funding changed its priorities.
The Supreme Court rules differently
Unfortunately, when the fund was escorted to court, the ruling said that the money may not help animals, after all.
According to the ruling, Barbers nominated the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Brigades Donation Fund trust as its recipients. This means that the money must not be spent by anyone or any organization aside from the RFS.
"The Court advises trustees of the RFS Fund that they cannot use the donated money to give to other charities, or to donate interstate, or to help people or animals affected by bushfires," Justice Michael Slattery wrote in his decision.
This ruling is contrary to what Barber promised to the contributors on her Facebook fundraising.
"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."
Fortunately, the fund may still be used by the RFS to help the families of the firefighters that died during the bushfire. What it can't help though, are the organizations that help animals in rehabilitation or animal rescue groups in other states.
