Independent senator Nick Xenophon has described as a "cop out" coalition reluctance to back his call for a Senate inquiry into the Church of Scientology.
The senator, in a scathing parliamentary attack on Tuesday, labelled the church a criminal organisation hiding behind so-called religious beliefs.
He called for a Senate inquiry into the church's tax-exempt status and a police investigation of criminal allegations.
The government says it will consider Senator Xenophon's request for an inquiry but the opposition is not so keen.
"My view is that Senate committees shouldn't try to act as de facto law enforcers," senior opposition senator Eric Abetz told reporters on Thursday.
But he conceded parliament was an appropriate forum to raise concerns.
Senator Xenophon was not impressed with the coalition line, saying the Senate had conducted inquiries on issues such as whether Tasmania should have an AFL football team through to the Forgotten Australians.
"Yet there are excuses on both sides of the fence... that it's all too hard and we shouldn't have an inquiry into it, now that is a cop out," he told reporters.
Senators, as elected representatives, had an obligation to deal with the grievances of constituents and deal with allegations of injustice.
"So I see that as a cop out if that is the path that my Senate colleagues will go down."
Senator Xenophon said he had received hundreds of emails, including many detailing complaints from former members of the church, following his speech.
"Those will be gone through and, where appropriate, will be handed on to the police."
A phone hook-up was scheduled with NSW police on Thursday morning to discuss the matter, he said.
I know that the fight is not over YET so if there is anything that any of us can do to help please let us know. 
