Scientology inquiry fails

7 Dec 2009, 1:03 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Senate inquiry into the Church of Scientology dismissed AAP.

Senate inquiry into the Church of Scientology dismissed AAP.

A Senate inquiry into the Church of Scientology will not go ahead after the federal government told the church it believes police shound investigate any complaints. 

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A Senate inquiry into the Church of Scientology will not go ahead after the federal government told the church it believes the Tax Office and police are the most appropriate authorities to investigate any complaints.

A staff member for the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Chris Evans, has emailed Scientologists who wrote to Senator Evans after an independent senator, Nick Xenophon, made a series of explosive allegations in the Senate last month, Fairfax newspapers say.
 
Inquiry inappropriate

The email, from Hayden Falconer, said it would be inappropriate to conduct an inquiry into a private, and in this case, religious organisation. He noted 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," the email says.

"The role of the Senate is to inquire into issues of public policy and public administration."

Xenophon left with no support

The Opposition cited similar arguments in its rejection of an inquiry. Senator Xenophon will consequently lack the numbers to establish the inquiry.
 
But Senator Xenophon said on Sunday he will call for a vote in February for an inquiry and does 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.
 

Background 

Last month Senator Xenophon tabled letters from several former Scientologists alleging that the church was guilty of coercing abortions, forced labour, obstructing justice and covering up child abuse.

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