By Selma Milovanovic
December 24, 2003
Spiritual group Falun Dafa is seeking an apology from the Melbourne City
Council after a tribunal yesterday found the council had discriminated
against it by excluding it from this year’s Moomba parade.
Judge John Bowman, deputy president of the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal, said that while he was satisfied Falun Dafa’s
participation in the parade would have been cultural and not political, some
people could infer the council itself was politically motivated.
Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, has been banned in China since 1999.
It bases its beliefs on improving people’s moral character and physical
wellbeing. The group, which says that more than 500 members have been killed
because of their beliefs, also says its only political agenda is seeking the
end to persecution of Falun Dafa in China.
Judge Bowman said the council had treated the group harshly by saying in
January that it would allow members to take part in Moomba 2003 – after they
gave an undertaking not to spread political messages – then banning them in
February on the basis of their apparent “strong political associations”. The
council had breached the Equal Opportunity Act, he said.
Greens councillor David Risstrom, who voted against excluding Falun Dafa in
a six-to-three council vote in February, said that limiting community
involvement because of a group’s political affiliation was a dangerous
precedent. Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley said in a statement that “the
council will abide by the umpire’s decision”.
Judge Bowman set a directions hearing for February to determine the issue of
the council’s apology.
A Falun Dafa spokesman said the group hoped the council would apologise
publicly.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/23/1071941726523.html
Posting date: 25/Dec/2003
Original article date: 24/Dec/2003
Category: Media Report
