Ruqayyah Snyder
Scientology has existed in Australia since the 1950s. It has been the subject of controversy and legal battles in the country, with some states previously banning the practice. The Church of Scientology has been recognised as a religious institution by the Australian High Court and is exempt from payroll taxes. Despite this recognition, the organisation has faced criticism and scrutiny from various sectors, including politicians and the media.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Scientology recognized as a religion in Australia? | Yes, since 1983 |
| Is Scientology banned in Australia? | No, but it was banned in Victoria from 1965 to 1973, in South Australia from 1968 to 1973, and in Western Australia from 1968 to 1972 |
| Is Scientology popular in Australia? | No, it has been described as "the single most unpopular and controversial" religion, with a declining number of adherents |
| Is there a history of opposition to Scientology in Australia? | Yes, notably from media proprietor Rupert Murdoch and politician Nick Xenophon |
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What You'll Learn
- The Church of Scientology is recognised as a religion in Australia
- The Church of Scientology was banned in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia
- The Church of Scientology has headquarters in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra
- The Church of Scientology uses controversial techniques, including the E-meter
- The Church of Scientology has been criticised for its anti-psychiatry beliefs
The Church of Scientology is recognised as a religion in Australia
The Church of Scientology has had a long and controversial history in Australia. It was introduced in the country as early as 1950, when it was mentioned as "the latest craze in Hollywood", and founder L. Ron Hubbard visited in 1959 to deliver lectures. In 1965, the Anderson Inquiry found that the Church employed harmful techniques to secure domination and mental enslavement of its adherents, leading to a ban in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
However, in 1983, the High Court of Australia unanimously recognised the Church of Scientology as a religious institution, granting it exemption from payroll taxes and vast legal protections. This decision was based on the court's interpretation that "charlatanism is a necessary price of religious freedom" and that a "lack of sincerity or integrity" from a religious leader did not make the religion any less legitimate.
Since then, the Church of Scientology has enjoyed tax-free status in Australia, and its wealth has increased despite a shrinking membership. The Church has headquarters in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra, and its Sydney headquarters serves as the regional base for the entire Asia-Pacific area.
The recognition of the Church of Scientology as a religion in Australia has set a precedent for other countries, with courts in Britain and New Zealand citing the Australian High Court's decision.
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The Church of Scientology was banned in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia
The Church of Scientology has had a long and controversial history in Australia. It was recognised as a religion by the Australian High Court in 1983, granting it vast legal protections and tax-free status. However, this was not always the case.
Scientology was banned in Victoria in 1965, becoming the first place in the world to do so. This ban lasted until 1973. The ban was legislated in the Psychological Practices Act, 1965, which prohibited the use of an E-meter (a device used by the Church of Scientology) and teaching Scientology for a fee or reward. The Attorney General in New South Wales also instructed the state's Registrar of Companies not to register any companies with the word "Scientology" in their names.
Following Victoria's lead, South Australia and Western Australia also banned the Church of Scientology. The ban in South Australia lasted from 1968 to 1973, while the ban in Western Australia was from 1968 to 1972. During this time, the Church of Scientology changed its name to the Church of the New Faith and continued to operate in these two states.
The bans were influenced by the media proprietor Rupert Murdoch, who had a history of going after the Church of Scientology in his newspapers. Murdoch believed that his newspapers had played a crucial role in triggering the bans. The Church of Scientology itself believed that Murdoch's newspapers were responsible for the first ban on Scientology in the world.
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The Church of Scientology has headquarters in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra
The Church of Scientology has existed in Australia since the early 1950s and has headquarters in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra. It also has a mission in Tasmania and Brisbane. The Church of Scientology Sydney is the regional headquarters for the entire Asian and Pacific area.
In 1959, L. Ron Hubbard travelled to Australia and delivered lectures at the Melbourne Congress and the First Melbourne Advanced Clinical Course. The Church of Scientology has been active in the Australian media, campaigning against what it claims are the dangers of psychiatric drugs and the treatment of ADHD. It has also run an anti-drug campaign in dozens of schools in Melbourne, giving presentations and handing out brochures.
The Church of Scientology was restricted from forming under its original name in Australia following the findings of the 1965 Anderson Inquiry. The Attorney General in New South Wales instructed the state's Registrar of Companies "not to register companies or firms with the word 'scientology' in their names". The ban in Victoria lasted from 1965 until 1973, in South Australia from 1968 to 1973, and in Western Australia from 1968 until 1972. In response, the Church changed its name to the Church of the New Faith, a body incorporated in Adelaide in 1969, and continued to operate in those two states.
In 1983, the High Court of Australia unanimously confirmed the organization to be a religious institution with respect to exemption from payroll taxes. However, in 2009, the Church came under fire from an Independent senator in the Commonwealth Parliament, Nick Xenophon, who declared that the Church of Scientology is a criminal organization.
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The Church of Scientology uses controversial techniques, including the E-meter
The Church of Scientology is known for its use of controversial techniques, including the E-meter, a device that has been the subject of scrutiny and legal issues. The E-meter, also known as the "Mathison Electropsychometer," was patented by Volney Mathison in 1954. It is a simple electrical device with a needle that moves across a scale when a person holds on to two electrical contacts.
The Church of Scientology claims that the E-meter is used to assess the emotional charge of words, sentences, and questions, as well as indicating the general state of the subject. They assert that it is intended solely for spiritual purposes and is not a medical or curative device. However, the E-meter has been criticised as a tool for domination and manipulation, with its use condemned as medically, morally, and socially harmful.
In 1963, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided the Founding Church of Scientology and confiscated E-meters, accusing the Church of making false medical claims. The FDA also charged that the devices lacked adequate directions for use. This led to years of litigation, with a jury ultimately finding that the Church had misrepresented the E-meter, resulting in the destruction of the confiscated materials.
In Australia, the use of the E-meter has also been a point of contention. The 1965 Anderson Inquiry found that Scientology employed quasi-psychological treatments that were harmful, and as a result, Victoria banned the use of the E-meter without a license, with other states following suit. However, these bans were later repealed, and in 1983, the High Court of Australia recognised Scientology as a religion, granting it religious rights and protections.
The Church of Scientology continues to face criticism and legal challenges in various countries, including Germany, where it is seen as a potential threat to democracy and human rights. Despite this, Scientology is officially recognised as a religion in several countries, including Australia, the United States, Spain, and Sweden, among others.
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The Church of Scientology has been criticised for its anti-psychiatry beliefs
Scientology's anti-psychiatry stance has been criticised by experts in the medical and scientific community, including psychiatrists and other physicians. They argue that the Church's views on psychiatry are ill-informed and dangerous, and that the organisation's campaigns have the potential to cause harm by discouraging people from seeking necessary psychiatric treatment. For example, in 2006, the Church of Scientology arranged an anti-psychiatry exhibition in Sydney, which was criticised by Christopher Pyne, the federal government's parliamentary secretary for health with special responsibilities for mental health. Pyne expressed concern that the exhibition could lead people to stop seeing psychiatrists, potentially resulting in tragic outcomes.
The Church of Scientology maintains that its opposition to psychiatry is based on the belief that psychiatry has a long history of mistreating patients and providing abusive and unscientific "cures". They argue that psychiatry's methods are brutal and medically, morally, and socially harmful. The Church also asserts that the psychiatric profession is part of an organised anti-Scientology movement, working in league with deprogrammers and certain government bodies to create a docile, mind-controlled population.
The anti-psychiatry beliefs of the Church of Scientology have influenced the actions of its members, who often refuse psychiatric care and treatment, even in cases of serious mental health issues. For instance, in the case of Elli Perkins, a Scientologist mother who chose to treat her son's schizophrenia with Scientology methods instead of seeking professional psychiatric help. Additionally, legal contracts required by the Church of Scientology often include clauses where followers deny any and all psychiatric care and affirm their belief that all mental problems are spiritual in nature.
The Church of Scientology has faced legal actions and criticism regarding its relationship with members and their mental health. In 2007, a woman from Sydney was charged with murdering her father and sister and injuring her mother. It was reported that her parents had prevented her from seeking psychiatric treatment due to their Scientology beliefs.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Scientology is not banned in Australia. In 1983, the Australian High Court recognized it as a religion and granted it vast legal protections and tax-free status.
Yes, in 1965, the Church of Scientology was restricted from forming under that name in Australia. The ban in Victoria lasted from 1965 until 1973, in South Australia from 1968 to 1973, and in Western Australia from 1968 until 1972.
The 1965 Anderson Inquiry found that Scientology employs techniques that further its real purpose of securing domination over and mental enslavement of its adherents. It involves the administration of quasi-psychological treatment, which is harmful medically, morally, and socially.
