Sabra Lane reported this story on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 08:06:00

TONY EASTLEY: Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has used parliamentary privilege to launch a scathing attack on the Church of Scientology.



Last night, the Senator tabled seven letters from former members of the church that alleged extensive criminal activity, claims of blackmail and coerced abortions.



He's urged the Senate to set up an inquiry into the church, and review the organisation's tax free status.



Sabra Lane reports.



SABRA LANE: The Church of Scientology has always been veiled in secrecy and controversy since it was founded by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard in 1953. Last night Independent Senator Nick Xenophon used parliamentary privilege to raise claims of physical intimidation, blackmail, coerced abortions and cover-up.



NICK XENOPHON: Scientology is not a religious organisation; it is a criminal organisation that hides behind its so-called religious beliefs. The letters received by me which were written by former followers in Australia contains extensive allegations of crimes and abuses that are truly shocking - crimes against them, and crimes they say they were coerced into committing.



There are allegations of false imprisonment, coerced abortions and embezzlement of church funds.



SABRA LANE: Senator Xenophon tabled seven letters during his speech from ex-church members, he's met six of them face-to face and the seventh he's spoken to on the phone. He says all of them are willing to co-operate with police and he's handed their correspondence to the New South Wales and Australian Federal Police.



Senator Xenophon says he's received letters from many more former followers, who are too afraid to be identified or talk with authorities.



The Senator also spoke about former member Paul Schofield, who claims to have perjured himself to police about the deaths of his two daughters, for fear of recrimination from church leaders.



NICK XENOPHON: Under incredible pressure he agreed to lie because he was scared he would be heavily punished by Scientology if he told the truth. It's a decision he regrets to this day.



SABRA LANE: The Independent MP says it's time for an inquiry into the church, including a review of its tax free status



NICK XENOPHON: I ask my fellow Senators, do these things sound like religious activities to you? Does this sound like an organisation that should be receiving support from the Australian taxpayer in the form of tax exemptions because they claim to be a religion?



That's why I'm calling for a Senate inquiry into this organisation and its tax exempt status. This is not about religious freedom, in Australia there are no limits on what you can believe, but there are limits on how you can behave - it's called the law and no one is above it.



SABRA LANE: Cyrus Brooks is a spokesman for the Church of Scientology.



CYRUS BROOKS: It's an outrageous abuse of parliamentary privilege from a Senator who would not even meet with us several months ago to discuss his concerns.



SABRA LANE: I've spoken with the Senator's office this morning, and the office says that offer has never been made.



CYRUS BROOKS: That's totally untrue, and he's actually not responded to a single letter of, scientologists have written in. Not just the church, but individual scientologists were outraged by his statements months ago, and he's marginalised Australian scientologists by actually not responding to any single letter from them.



SABRA LANE: These are very serious allegations.



CYRUS BROOKS: Well the allegations are, actually, we need to get the information ourselves from the Parliament because they have not been made to us. These people have written in but they have not written in to us on these things so.



SABRA LANE: Is the church willing to open its books and cooperate with a police investigation?



CYRUS BROOKS: We've always been willing to cooperate with any authorities on any concerns that are brought up.



TONY EASTLEY: Church of Scientology spokesman Cyrus Brooks ending that report by Sabra Lane.