I noticed this on JW Leaks: On 5 November 2013, Watchtower Australia sent out a body of elders letter instructing all congregations to form as independent legal entities and charities and to register with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission << ACNC >>. By the end of the month over 800 congregations within Australia had become their own legal entity trading under the business name “[NAME] Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Under this legal arrangement congregation records, including judicial records and membership records, are the property of the individual charity and not CCJWA.
It appears that along with destroying records they are continuing to attempting to insulate the upper echelons from the actions of the local congregations and throwing the local elders under the bus by making the claim of ignorance about what goes on locally. Sorry bastards!