Chinese spiritual group Falun Dafa has vowed to march in next year’s Moomba
parade after winning a legal row with Melbourne City Council.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has found the council
discriminated against Falun Dafa by banning it from last year’s Moomba
parade.
The tribunal heard council initially accepted the group’s application to
march but three weeks later changed its mind.
Vice president Judge Bowman found the council breached the Equal Opportunity
Act by excluding the group from Moomba and said it was the council, rather
than Falun Dafa that was motivated by politics.
He dismissed Falun Dafa’s application for a permanent injunction to prevent
future bans.
The group’s Michael Pearson Smith says Falun Dafa will seek legal costs.
“We’re fairly confident that the council will realise that they’ve done
wrong here and do the right thing,” he said.
The hearing has been adjourned till February when both parties will discuss
a formal council apology.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1015469.htm
Posting date: 24/Dec/2003
Original article date: 23/Dec/2003
Category: Media Report
