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False reports about the inquiry in Australia

dianaclass8

Silver Meritorious Patron
http://www.theage.com.au/national/probe-into-scientology-rejected-20091206-kcwc.html

SENATE inquiry into Scientology will not go ahead after the Rudd Government told the church it believed the Tax Office and police were the most appropriate authorities to investigate any complaints.

A staff member for Government Senate leader Chris Evans has emailed Scientologists who wrote to him after independent senator Nick Xenophon made a series of explosive allegations in the Senate last month, saying it would be inappropriate to conduct an inquiry into a private, religious organisation.

The email, from Hayden Falconer, noted that there was no precedent for the Senate to conduct such a targeted inquiry.

''It is not the role of the Parliament to inquire into the tax status of a particular organisation or individual, or to investigate criminal matters,'' it says. ''The role of the Senate is to inquire into issues of public policy and public administration.''

The Opposition yesterday cited similar arguments in its rejection of a probe, meaning Senator Xenophon will lack the numbers to establish the inquiry. But Senator Xenophon was undeterred, saying yesterday that in February he would call for a vote for an inquiry and did not accept the Government's argument.

''That's a cop-out. The matters for police will quite rightly go to the police, but there are matters there that relate to civil law and issues of law reform in terms of the tax free status,'' he said. ''If the major parties think that this is an issue that will go away, then they're kidding themselves.''

Senator Xenophon last month tabled letters from several former Scientologists alleging that the church was guilty of coercing abortions, forced labour, obstructing justice and covering up child abuse. Life for Scientology staff, former members wrote, featured unbearable hours, constant punishments, lack of access to medical care, and sometimes physical abuse and imprisonment.

The vice-president of the Church of Scientology International, Robert Adams, told The Age that every single allegation tabled in Parliament by Senator Xenophon was ''meritless'', and many had been investigated and dismissed earlier by independent authorities.

''One way to measure that is how law enforcement responds to any of these allegations. There has been no interest because there has been no evidence,'' he said. ''Apostates are not credible witnesses. Like former spouses or employees, they are trying to find a reason why they departed.''

In Melbourne to address the Parliament of the World's Religions yesterday, Mr Adams said the former members were throwing mud, hoping some would stick.

He also attacked Senator Xenophon, saying he was lucky not to be censured for violating parliamentary privilege.

Meanwhile, Scientologists are upset that the Victorian Education Department cancelled schools' involvement in a human rights program run by the church without consultation, according to Melbourne president Emmanuel Foundas.

Mr Foundas said the program, drawing pictures on human rights themes for a prize of a trip to the United Nations in New York, would continue.

Asked if every complaint against the church was invalid, Mr Foundas said sometimes there were injustices, but the church worked hard to rectify these. ''We are self-correcting,'' he said.

With ARI SHARP
 
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Carmel

Crusader
There is already a thread on this:

http://forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=15169

The headline is misleading in today's SMH. The vote has not been held and will not be held until Febuary.
Yeah, actually, the headline is an outright lie! - It's another journo making a statement out of a letter and comments from Xen made over a week ago now!

Lemme tell ya, a lot has happened, even in this last week. There are pollies who have changed their stance on this, even since Thursday.

Xen, his office, and his allies in Parliament know what they're doing. Things ARE going according to plan. :)
 

AnonyMary

Formerly Fooled - Finally Free
Yeah, actually, the headline is an outright lie! - It's another journo making a statement out of a letter and comments from Xen made over a week ago now!

Lemme tell ya, a lot has happened, even in this last week. There are pollies who have changed their stance on this, even since Thursday.

Xen, his office, and his allies in Parliament know what they're doing. Things ARE going according to plan. :)

Thanks for correcting the OP.

Mary
 

Shredder

Patron with Honors
A world without insanity - not too far away

Yeah, actually, the headline is an outright lie! - It's another journo making a statement out of a letter and comments from Xen made over a week ago now!

Lemme tell ya, a lot has happened, even in this last week. There are pollies who have changed their stance on this, even since Thursday.

Xen, his office, and his allies in Parliament know what they're doing. Things ARE going according to plan. :)

Some of these things that are going so well is how the ExScio's flanks have been networked and joined by the plethora of social activists and the broader community.

When you consider this is attributed to all those who have had the courage to look, stood up for themselves and spoken out, with the true facts verified through existing channels collaborating and coordinating so well - all for the one purpose of getting the truth out into the broader domains, so that others don't get caught falling into the trap, and those that are in the trap know it is safe to come out now; there is plenty of care and support to go around for all!

So the broader public - (even without the Exes) think it's a no brainer - I think the fact that the CofS continues to operate on the assumption that their PR is 'good' out here - is just tragic - and only helps to serve against them.
 

Kookaburra

Gold Meritorious Patron
These articles have just got Exes and Anons more pissed off and determined. And the Scios can complacently go back to sleep now.
 

Carmel

Crusader
These articles have just got Exes and Anons more pissed off and determined. And the Scios can complacently go back to sleep now.
Yep, and Xen and Co now have more to work with. They have something to expose and media is interested.
 

Panda Termint

Cabal Of One
The main purpose of the "positive press" may be to settle the CofS troops, they're about to experience a whole new level of Management inspired idiocy... stay tuned.
 

scooter

Gold Meritorious Patron
The main purpose of the "positive press" may be to settle the CofS troops, they're about to experience a whole new level of Management inspired idiocy... stay tuned.

Damn you and your mystery sandwiches.:D

But I agree - this is about settling the faithful and making them believe the IAS and OSA handled this one and are working on Anonymous too.

I'll bet there's some "Confidential Briefings" going down right now for all ANZO public and staff to tell them what wonderful things are in store for "the future of Scientology.":duh:

"If you just donate your remaining wordly goods to us before you leave so that we can fund this for you."
 
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