page 3 - Senate Daily Summary–This week at a glance

18 March 2010
 Matters relating to the Church of Scientology–Community Affairs References
Committee–to report by 18 March 2010

Senator Xenophon: To move on 18 March 2010—

(1) That the following matters be referred to the Economics References Committee
for inquiry and report by 24 June 2010:
(a) allegations of abuse, recently widely reported in the Australian media,
against employees, volunteers and followers (including ex-employees,
ex-volunteers and ex-followers) of the Church of Scientology and any
associated entities, including:
(i) coerced abortions,
(ii) unsafe occupational health and safety practices,
(iii) unconscionable, misleading and deceptive conduct in the context
of goods and services provided and charged for by the Church of
Scientology and any associated entities, and
(iv) the harassment of followers and ex-followers of the Church of
Scientology and any associated entities;
(b) the adequacy of the Model Criminal Code and its application in respect
of the offence of psychological harm;
(c) the adequacy of current consumer protection laws in respect of goods
and services provided by the Church of Scientology and any associated
entities, and its fundraising practices generally;
(d) the adequacy of current occupational health and safety laws and
workplace relations laws in respect of the allegations of conduct
occurring within the Church of Scientology and any associated entities;
and
(e) any related matters.

(2) That in undertaking this inquiry, the committee will not inquire into the validity or otherwise of the belief systems of the Church of Scientology and any
associated entities.

One thing I'd like to point out, which I haven't seen anyone talk about since I've been following everything on WWP...

When girls in the Sea Org actually get an abortion, some are punished for wasting production time. Specifically, "lower conditions" are done. Where the person is assigned the condition of "Treason, Enemy, Doubt, Confusion or Liability".

Again... that's if they actually DO have an abortion. So they have to stay up late at night, work passed quitting time and through their meal breaks in order to work extra for "making up the damage done".

Then they have to write up a "conditions formula", wherein they have to tell everyone in the org what they did wrong (got pregnant = Dev T) and explain exactly what they did to make up the damage (i.e. number of hours worked outside of production time) and then ask them if they can become part of the group again. They have to get everyone in the org to sign yes or no, and need the majority to get out of trouble.

Yes. I have actually seen this.

Senator Nick Xenephon, whose motion was defeated in the Senate, speaks to 3AW Drive.

REPORT: The Government and the Opposition have again blocked Independent Senator Nick Xenephon's moves for a Senate Inquiry into the Church of Scientology.

There have been various media reports that you are no doubt aware of over the past weeks detailing alleged cases of abuse by the church against its followers.

Forced abortions and brain washing have been two of the more serious allegations.


Is Xenophon unfairly targeting Scientology? Or are his calls for an inquiry warranted?

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he shares "real concerns" about the Church of Scientology but isn't convinced the parliament is the best place to hear criminal allegations about the organisation.

The Senate has twice rejected calls for an upper house inquiry into the organisation, which has been the subject of claims of coerced abortions and workplace breaches.

Mr Rudd told the Seven Network on Friday he would take further advice on whether criminal and other allegations could be dealt with separately.

"I've just got to be very careful about how you... shine a light on a problem, deal with it, but at the same time don't interfere with criminal justice matters," he said.

"That's not where politicians should go."

Lawmakers Reject Inquiry on Scientology
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 19, 2010

The Senate on Thursday rejected a call for an inquiry into accusations against the Church of Scientology made by former members who said they had been abused and harassed and, in some instances, coerced into having abortions. A motion to authorize an investigation into the church received only 6 votes in the 76-seat chamber. (AP)

When allegations emerged that shonky insulation installers operating under the Federal Government's home insulation program had exposed householders to the risk of fires and workers to injury or death, the Liberal and National Parties promptly referred the matter to a Senate inquiry.

And when trade unions claimed that Australia Post was cutting its workers compensation costs by using company doctors to force injured employees back to work prematurely, the Labor Party was more than willing to ask a Senate committee to inquire.

But yesterday, despite credible accounts tabled in Parliament of harassment, assault and fraud by the Church of Scientology, Labor, Liberal and National Senators all joined forces to defeat a move by the South Australian independent Senator Nick Xenophon for an inquiry.

You might have thought the role of Senate committees should include investigating serious grievances and claims of mistreatment by citizens who have nowhere else to go because of gaps in the legal system.

But not all grievances, it seems, are created equal.



[much more in article link]

Independent senator Nick Xenophon is confident there will be a parliamentary inquiry into the Church of Scientology.

The Senate has twice rejected his calls to launch an inquiry into the organisation, which has been the subject of claims of abuse, including coerced abortions and workplace law breaches.

But Senator Xenophon isn't giving up, and says he's heartened by the change of language on the issue, noting Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's comments on Friday that he too has concerns about the church.

"It's inevitable that there will be some sort of inquiry into the Church of Scientology," he told Network Ten.

"Anything that's of a criminal nature ought to go to the police ... but there are a whole range of other issues that can be looked at by a senate inquiry."

These include law reform, health and safety practices, industrial practices, consumer law and reform of the criminal code, he said.

"These victims of Scientology deserve an inquiry, deserve a platform for their concerns to be heard."

It's easy to go on Sunrise and say you are concerned about things and that you want to fix them.

Rudd says: "I'm concerned about child care, I'm concerned about pokies, I'm concerned about the banks, I'm concerned about Scientology."

Well, being concerned is not the same as being part of any solution.