Xenophon’s Scientology Senate inquiry fails, what now?
In our free society, we actually allow people to hold silly, bizarre and even dangerous views.
-Liberal Senator, Eric Abetz
How’d that work out for you?
It was always going to be a difficult task, getting the parliament of Australia to accept that a religious organisation in Australia was worthy of a senate inquiry.
Still, Australian senator Nick Xenophon’s efforts are to be commended. With worldwide controversy following Scientology everywhere it rears its head, countless stories of victimisation, abuse, coercion, flaunting of employment regulations and a PR machine that works tirelessly to discredit any negativity against the organisation, even public acknowledgement by a senator was a big step.
Today Senator Xenophon’s proposed Australian parliamentary Senate inquiry into the tax exempt status of Scientology in Australia failed. Xenophon argued that in the UK, organisations were required to demonstrate that they were of public benefit to qualify for the exemption.
Today both the Liberal and Labor parties voted down the proposal.
So what now?
In defense of his party’s decision, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said;
the inquiry would turn the Senate into a “de-facto criminal investigations bureau” and worried it would allow disaffected people from all types of groups to air their grievances.
The Australian Tax Office has been named as the best organisation to investigate the tax affairs of Scientology but this doesn’t address an inquiry into tax exempt status or eligibility itself.
Scientology are currently a tax exempt organisation in Australia so what is an ATO inquiry going to achieve. The Australian legal system can’t even get the Church to produce vital audit files for use in a potential homicidede investigation, what makes anyone think the ATO will be any more successful?
Such contempt for the legal system in this country doesn’t lend Scientology any favours in the perception that they will deal with smaller organisations credibly and without deception.
I’m aware that individuals can launch action against Scientology but at what point do we not begin to question the effect of allowing the organisation to trade in Australia in its current state.
Over in the UK where organisations are required to prove they contribute positively to the public benefit it’s worth noting that Scientology has not been granted tax exempt status.
With eligibility requirements in place, Scientology is not officially recognised as a religion in the UK.
Further more is it really of any concern that if there are other groups or organisations out there committing the same atrocities as Scientology has been accused of, that they be investigated by a governing body?
What are the Liberals and Labor so afraid of?
If an organisation is to request tax exempt status on it’s income then why shouldn’t they be required to prove to tax payers that they in some way contribute positively to the general public?
Hearing about people handing over their life savings to Scientology and then watching videos of Tommy Davis showcasing multi million dollar upgrades to Scientology buildings as a measure of the organisations ‘success’ doesn’t sound beneficial at all.
Shouldn’t a religion’s success be measured in the improvement it brings to the lives of its parishioners?
In this regard you don’t need me to point out just how many people worldwide have publicly claimed to have had their lives destroyed or negatively effected by Scientology.
The ABC’s Four Corner’s recently did 40+ minute report into some of these ex-Scientology members’ claims.
Last Saturday the New York Times also ran a front page story looking into the lives of ex-Scientology members Christie and King Collbran.
These are just two recent examples. I’m sure there are hundreds if not thousands of stories out there yet to be told. Forget about criminal charges, just how many lives need to be affected for an inquiry into Scientology’s status of providing ‘positive public benefit’ to take place?
I think the main reason the police investigations don’t go anywhere is that when presented with allegations the church’s response is usually something along the lines of;
‘Hi, we’re the police and we’re here on behalf of Mrs. X to investigate claims of forced abortions.’
‘No worries. Well firstly did you know Mrs. X stole a Mars bar from a supermarket when she was 3. Also this one time she jaywalked.’
‘Ok.. well getting back to forced abor-’
‘Yes well it’s all in her file, have you seen the file?’
‘Well no, aren’t those things under confessional priviledge?’
‘Yes of course they are. We’re not allowed to release them but her file was on the internet so we just viewed it. It’s publicly accessible she must have broken into our vaults and uploaded it herself.’
‘Uh… why would she do that??’
‘Well you tell me. She’s the one stealing Mars Bars. And let me tell you… did you know she even had an abortion?? How can she be trusted!’
‘um…’
‘Oh and here’s 981 sworn statements from Scientology members swearing that they were never forced into having abortions.’
‘Ok… hey wait a minute these are all statements from men.’
‘Here at the church we don’t discriminate on the basis of gender. You don’t support discrimination do you?’
‘No but-’
‘Cool, well as you can see the Church of Scientology has never forced anyone to have an abortion. And Mrs X. is nothing more then a mars bar stealing thief. Did you know she once had an abortion?’
‘Right. Well thankyou for your time.’
‘No problems. The Church of Scientology is always happy to co-operate and assist with police investigations.’
If Scientology is not to be brought under investigation by the Australian parliament, then by who?
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