Friday, 21 February 2003 (Sydney FDI) – The discrimination complaint lodged by Dr. Michael Pearson-Smith on behalf of the Falun Fo Xue Association of Australia, following the exclusion of Falun Dafa from the Chinese New Year Festival of 2002, was today resolved at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The Hearing, which began on Tuesday, concluded with a settlement that guarantees Falun Dafa participation in future festivals up to the year 2008.
Included in the terms of settlement are guarantees that:
The Federation Of Chinese Associations (Vic.) Inc. as an incorporated community organisation in Victoria will always abide by the requirements of the Equal Opportunity Act, including the requirement not to discriminate on the grounds of religious and political beliefs and activities.
The FCA agrees to provide Falun Dafa Association of Victoria access to a stall at the FCA Chinese New Year Festival in 2004 and in 2005-2008 if festivals are held in those years, and to permit Falun Dafa Assoc. of Vic. To participate at this above-mentioned festival under the same terms and conditions as other participants of the festival.
Dr. Pearson-Smith stated that: “This settlement is a positive outcome for all concerned. It means that Falun Dafa can take its rightful place in next year’s China’s New Year Festival. It shows that discrimination is not acceptable in Australia and that the system is working. I also feel that the Federation of Chinese Associations, as fellow Australians, will eventually realise that this result is actually in their interests as well.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Dr. Michael Pearson-Smith 0409 500 271
Kati Vereshaka 0408 165 094
WEBSITES: www.faluninfo.net , www.falunau.org
E-MAIL : news@falunau.org
