It appears that rich people don't do charity anymore and Australian businessman Dick Smith admits disappointment as he realised that much of Corporate Australia's major players are not up to donating a fraction of their incomes at least even only during the holiday season.

Smith, who made his fortunes through his electronic business, revealed that he sent letters to major bank chief executives, urging them to part ways with some 20 percent of their salaries to be given out to charitable institutions or endeavours and only Commonwealth Bank head Ralph Norris bothered to respond so far.

Yet like the other high-level executives and considered too as super-rich Australians, Norris was non-committal and simply wrote on his reply that he is already committed on other charities though in a private manner.

Smith said that he was disgusted by the blatant display of greed by Australia's wealthiest, who he said are worth well over a hundred million dollars and yet they don't donate anything as he noted "wealthy people in America donate far more than those in Australia."

Speaking at a Sydney chapel known for sheltering the homeless, the philanthropist stressed that good things happen to those who give and "if they were giving their money away, it's amazing what happens with karma and the right things would happen for them."

According to Reverend Bill Crews of Exodus Foundation, a donation of $1 million would make a huge difference for 80 children and give them a fresh start as he stressed that "for them the whole world would change and these wealthy people don't see is that in giving you do change the world."

Crews observed that the deteriorating global financial situation could be prompting even wealthy people to stay away from doing charity acts, which is supported by the latest findings of the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) that showed even ordinary Australians are prevented from dispensing charities due to financial hardship.

The joint survey of ANRA and American Express found that some 41 percent of those polled would not give to charity this year as compared to the 36 percent recorded in the previous year, effectively confirming Crews' claim that total donation to charities were significantly reduced.