Topic: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities (Read 2911 times)

ethercat · « **on:** June 28, 2010, 18:33 »

The Australian Senate decided to look into the tax-exempt status of Australian charities, and determine if they were worthy of their status, as many of us in the United States feel that our government should do, particularly with scientology.

Here is a link to the Parliment of Australia's information page:
Tax Laws Amendment (Public Benefit Test) Bill 2010

They welcomed submissions on the matter, before the official inquiry began; they received 84 submissions, which can be found here: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/economics_ctte/public_benefit_test_10/submissions.htm

The Inquiry was broadcast live on Australian television, and was recorded by a critic who goes by the name "mnql1".

Many thanks to "mnql1" for the videos!

mefree · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2010, 18:42 »

Thanks, EC!

ethercat · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2010, 19:14 »

Apparently there is more yet to come. I hope video will be available.

Mary_McConnell · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2010, 00:42 »

Quote from: ethercat on June 28, 2010, 19:14

Apparently there is more yet to come. I hope video will be available.

Larry Brennan's testimony went 'in-camera' meaning it was done on camera and without public view. The rest should be up tomorrow

UPDATE: http://forums.whyweprotest.net/318-senator-xenophon-scientology/public-benefit-test-day-2-hearing-68673/5/Posted by mnql1 at WhyWeProtest.net
Entire June 29, 2010 proceedings now on YouTube

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The entire June 29, 2010 proceedings of the Senate Economics Committee are now on YouTube. In order of appearance:

Australian Christian Lobby
Lyle Shelton, Chief of Staff
Ben Williams, Research Officer

Australian Christian Lobby (1/4) Scientology and Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikXbhBz_TPM

Australian Christian Lobby (2/4) Scientology and Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7caUIjG9_Q

Australian Christian Lobby (3/4) Scientology and Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q891Q6eztgc

Australian Christian Lobby (4/4) Scientology and Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wzLvOsQcVU

Dr. Matthew Turnour
Prof. Myles McGregor Lowndes

Dr. M Turnour & Prof. M. McGregor Lowndes (1/5) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78HaD5yFbvI

Dr. M Turnour & Prof. M. McGregor Lowndes (2/5) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgxV6BO1AJc

Dr. M Turnour & Prof. M. McGregor Lowndes (3/5) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlHktF6n7jk

Dr. M Turnour & Prof. M. McGregor Lowndes (4/5) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHtcV3fGOQQ

Dr. M Turnour & Prof. M. McGregor Lowndes (5/5) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnXczilsNFg

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Father Brian Lucas, General Secretary

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (1/6) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GESiSn3YEkU

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (2/6) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nja1-pmFTKM

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (3/6) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWpG3qrPivc

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (4/6) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYfMYwPWXZ0

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (5/6) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j85tjyc1evI

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (6/6) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsH5RzfF81k

Melbourne Law School, Not-for-Profit Project
Dr Matthew Harding, Senior Lecturer
Dr Joyce Chia, Research Fellow

Melbourne Law School (1/3) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmheM87CiR0

Melbourne Law School (2/3) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MOqwl5dQvw

Melbourne Law School (3/3) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPE6opJCtq0

Larry Brennan - Scientology and Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD6UVWazURs

Treasury
Michael Wilcock, General Manager, Personal and Retirement Income Division
Sandra Roussell, Manager, Philanthropy and Exemptions Unit

Australian Taxation Office
Greg Williams, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Small and Medium Enterprises
Michael Hardy, Assistant Commissioner Policy & Government Liaison and Government & Not for Profit Sector

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (1/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAkE8sfpsUo

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (2/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Uw6QUsk4s

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (3/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tDDDFNPtOI

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (4/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og08_zXXzo8

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (5/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUcbS3T3E8g

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (6/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq3fKE34Nc0

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (7/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gViwW9FaIQ

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (8/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61z16LvHr28

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (9/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vK0feExtrw

Treasury & Australian Taxation Office (10/10) Senator Xenophon's Public Benefit Test Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1TwqB8cqYc

Here is a YouTube playlist for June 28 and another for June 29.

June 28
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...B749CC460FAC8E

June 29
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...AC9509F46816F1

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RedShieldwolf · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2010, 13:37 »

Quote from: ethercat on June 28, 2010, 18:33

The Australian Senate decided to look into the tax-exempt status of Australian charities, and determine if they were worthy of their status, as many of us in the United States feel that our government should do, particularly with Scientology.

I think we should have a general public benefits test here in the States. Scientology certainly isn't the only corrupt spiritual or religious organization here, although I would state it is the worst or one of the worst.

If I may give an example of something non-Scientology related, here is an article on the David Lynch program, which seeks to introduce Transcendental Meditation into schools:

http://www.examiner.com/x-20682-Boston-Underground-Examiner~y2009m11d1-Transcendental-Meditation-in-schools-the-David-Lynch-program

According to the article and Wikileaks, the Maharishi University of Management and the David Lynch Foundation attempted to censor the article, claiming it was defamatory. Sound familiar?

ethercat · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2010, 21:43 »

Thanks, Mary! I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

Quote from: RedShieldwolf on June 29, 2010, 13:37

I think we should have a general public benefits test here in the States. Scientology certainly isn't the only corrupt spiritual or religious organization here, although I would state it is the worst or one of the worst.

If I may give an example of something non-Scientology related, here is an article on the David Lynch program, which seeks to introduce Transcendental Meditation into schools:

http://www.examiner.com/x-20682-Boston-Underground-Examiner~y2009m11d1-Transcendental-Meditation-in-schools-the-David-Lynch-program

According to the article and Wikileaks, the Maharishi University of Management and the David Lynch Foundation attempted to censor the article, claiming it was defamatory. Sound familiar?

A lot of it sounds familiar, citing worthless studies in support of their "method," using celebrities as shills, founded in the 1950s (was there something about the 50s that made for a fertile environment for cult-starting?), harassment of ex-members, and appealing to the apparent desires some people have for being more than human.

Quote

Surprisingly, studies measuring the effects of a simple mid-day nap report many of the same “unique” benefits touted by TM.

In fact, a study published in the journal Science in 1976 found in studying “five experienced practitioners of Transcendental Meditation”, that they “spent appreciable parts of meditation sessions” merely napping.

I'll bet napping is a whole lot cheaper!

Quote

Worst of all, TM makes a series of staggering claims that can be charitably described as “unlikely”. Old advertisements for TM claim that practitioners of TM will develop “supernormal powers” including “supernormal sight and hearing”, invisibility, and levitation! The organization even circulated photos with pictures of lotus-seated students apparently hovering above the ground, but first-hand observations of the “levitations” left many unconvinced. The levitators never managed to levitate for very long; they never really “hovered”. In fact, they sprung up rather abruptly and dropped immediately to the ground again. Really, it was quite apparent that these transcendent hopefuls were merely hopping about from a seated position.

Look, I'm levitating!

$:-D^\^\$

It is interesting, though, that the author links to process.org at the end of his article. I have yet to determine if this is related to the "Process" as is being discussed in another article on this forum. Is this one cult member bashing another cult - which certainly deserves bashing - or is process.org something else?

wynot · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2010, 07:37 »

A quick glance at process.org shows that they are mostly a blog; they laugh at Transcendental Meditation, and expose the phoniness of recovered memory therapy. They apparently have no use for the incompetent therapists who implant false memories, pointing out (for one example) the fact that memories of birth trauma are a physical impossibility. They also support Darknet, an effort of the EFF to protect netizen's communications from snooping government and corporate entities.

So if these folks are culties, it must be a far more benign one than Scientology!

'til next time;
wynot

RedShieldwolf · « **Reply #7 on:** July 01, 2010, 13:08 »

Quote from: ethercat on June 29, 2010, 21:43

A lot of it sounds familiar, citing worthless studies in support of their "method," using celebrities as shills, founded in the 1950s (was there something about the 50s that made for a fertile environment for cult-starting?), harassment of ex-members, and appealing to the apparent desires some people have for being more than human.

Don't forget the obvious: Introducing themselves into public schools, albeit more openly than Scientology. However, in this case they touch upon the legitimate concern of making a less stressful, more focused working environment for students. So why not let the students take a siesta if it has the same effects? It would certainly be less silly than forcing kids to join a cult.

I don't know why the 50s seemed like a good time to start a cult. I would say they were more gullible then, but I don't believe that's true. The 1950s had its problems just like we do today, despite what the nostalgic elderly will tell you.

http://www.oswego.edu/~dighe/desegregation_eliz_eckford.jpg

Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities

Quote from: wynot on June 30, 2010, 07:37

So if these folks are culties, it must be a far more benign one than Scientology!

It could be argued that not all cults are necessarily destructive like Scientology or TM are. The Raelians have views that pose a challenge to conservative society, but they aren't a real danger to the public in my opinion. Then again, like the People's Temple, they could become dangerous and destructive.

But I seriously doubt process.org is a real cult website.

What is Scientology?
Why should I be concerned?

If you don't know the answer
to both these questions,
click here.

News:

Author Topic: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities (Read 2911 times)

ethercat

Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities

mefree

Re: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities

ethercat

Re: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities

Mary_McConnell

Re: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities

RedShieldwolf

Re: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities

ethercat

Re: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities

wynot

Re: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities

RedShieldwolf

Re: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities

What is Scientology? Why should I be concerned? If you don't know the answer to both these questions, click here.

News:

Author Topic: Australian Senate Inquiry Investigating Tax Exempt Charities (Read 2911 times)

What is Scientology?
Why should I be concerned?

If you don't know the answer
to both these questions,
click here.