The government has for months threatened groups failing to join the abuse scheme that they risked losing their charity status and would be banned from receiving federal funding.

The wheels are turning on that threat, with the government planning to introduce draft legislation to parliament in the year's final sitting fortnight to tweak charity laws.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said institutions facing an application for redress were expected to join the scheme.

Jehovah's Witnesses, Kenja Communications and the Lakes Entrance Pony Club are some of the groups holding out.

"We've been extremely disappointed in the behaviour of the Jehovah's Witnesses," the minister told ABC radio on Friday.

"We have spent a lot of time trying to explain to them what we think is their moral obligation to participate in this scheme but they have to date declined to do so."

Survivors can't be given redress unless the institution they were abused by has joined the scheme.

The scheme can offer counselling, a direct response from responsible institutions and a redress payment.

There are 80 institutions the government hopes will join by the end of the year, and about half are charities.

The proposed laws change the definition of a basic religious charity to remove a religious institution's eligibility to be classified as one if it has been named in a redress application but refuses to join.

A new charities standard would also require registered charities to take all reasonable steps to be part of the scheme if a claim has been or was likely to be made against them.

Assistant Charities Minister Zed Seselja said the changes could result in some institutions being deregistered as charities.

"Deregistration would result in the entity losing access to a range of commonwealth benefits, tax and other concessions," he said.

About 150 redress claims can now be processed after another 70 institutions joined the scheme.

More than 8700 applications have been made in total but only 4221 have been processed.

Head of survivor advocacy group Blue Knot Foundation Cathy Kezelman has applauded the government for the charity plan, saying the groups are not taking responsibility.

"Every survivor living with the long-term impacts of trauma and abuse is one person too many," Dr Kezelman said.

"It is time for zero tolerance to the systemic ducking and weaving and abject moral decay institutions failing to join the scheme perpetuate."

Australian Associated Press