Melbourne - Scientology's Aussie mayor (7News Today Tonight 31-1-11)

Excuse the crap low quality web screengrab. A better quality version will turn up on youtube later I'm sure.

Scientology's Aussie mayor
7News broadcast 31st Jan 2010
Reporter: Bryan Seymour
http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/8749267/general/scientology-s-aussie...

Transcript:..........
The latest victim of scientology is a high profile politician apparently conned into advertising the cult by one of its top celebrities.

Robert Doyle came close to being Victoria's Premier, before ending up as Lord Mayor of Melbourne.

Now he's Scientology's new hero in Australia

"As I've said before my friend Kate Ceberano asked me to come to the ceremony and I'm delighted to be here at her invitation," Mayor Robert Doyle said as we asked him if he'd come in an official capacity.

"My friend Kate Ceberano invited me to be here and I'm pleased to be here because she is my friend and people should take no further imputation than that," said Melbourne Mayor Robert Doyle as he arrived in his official Mayoral car.

The Scientologists attending the opening of their new Melbourne headquarters at the weekend were in no doubt why Mayor Doyle was really there.

"Great! Good thing, good thing... Lord Mayor making a speech, I mean, it's good to have people on-side, saying the right thing about Scientology," said one Scientologist.

"He can just embrace what Scientology's got to offer for the community and what a better way to promote it by the Mayor himself," said another cult member.

It's one of Scientology's oldest tricks - using its celebrities, in this case singer Kate Ceberano, to lure in politicians with flattery and friendship... with the sole purpose of having them publicly endorse the cult at the opening of one its new, empty buildings.

"He opened the building, he gave a speech, he pulled the cord, he was very much there officially and it was a silly thing to do," said Melbourne talkback radio king, 3AWs Neil Mitchell; adding Mayor Doyle's endorsement of a brutal cult is baffling.

"He's a very smart politician, he's a very switched on politician, he would know exactly the dangers of being involved with this which is why I'm astounded why he was involved and I wonder what's behind it, whether there's something else we just don't know," Mitchell said.

Today Mayor Doyle claimed he wasn't aware of the history of allegations of serious abuse against Scientology... yet TT Reporter Bryan Seymour personally called the Mayor last Thursday and asked him all about that. Mayor Doyle became agitated and hung up.

Seymour also emailed Doyle and his media team detailed questions and links detailing Scientology's history of forcing women to have abortions, separating families, coercing child sex abuse victims to lie to the police, forced labour, brainwashing and so much more...

The church is already using vision of Doyle opening its new cult HQ as proof that it is popular in Australia!

Today Victoria's Premier Ted Baillieu and his Deputy Peter Ryan condemned Mayor Doyle's decision to back Scientology.

"Because I think there are elements of what it practices which are not in the best interests of people at large and I don't believe in it and I am opposed to it," Mr Ryan Said.

Kate Ceberano gave at least $100,000 to help the cult build it's new "super centre" as they hounded their followers to raise $20m to buy and renovate the former Sisters of Mercy Catholic College... money Federal Independent Senator Nick Xenophon is keen to track.

"You need to ask how much of that $20m has come off the backs of vulnerable and coerced people," Senator Xenophon said.

Insiders have told us scientology cannot even afford to run the air conditioning in its new centre.

Its numbers have plummeted as our four year investigation resulted in a Senate inquiry last year and new laws due to be introduced this year.

"There should not be a tax free status available to a church entity which is not, in fact, a church," Deputy Premier Ryan said.

"My concern is that there will be a big push by the Church of Scientology for new members and if that involves coercion, manipulation, intimidation then that's just not on," Senator Xenophon said.

Senator Xenophon has invited Mayor Doyle to meet the many victims of scientology - we'll let you know what happens.

============

Story Links:

Watch some of our 40+ stories on Scientology filed over the last four years:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scientology+%22today+tonight%22&a...

Read the report of the Australian Senate Inquiry inspired by our stories:
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/economics_ctte/public_benefit_test_10/...

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• scientology
• cult
• melbourne
• Mayor Robert Doyle
• Senator Xenophon
• Kate Ceberano
• anonymous
• Operation Clambake
• XENU
• XENU.NET
• whyweprotest
• wikileaks
• L.Ron Hubbard
• David Miscavige
• Dianetics
• Narconon
• Criminon
• Volunteer Ministers
• Tom Cruise
• John Tavolta
• XENUTV
• nutjobs
• moonbats
• tax the cult

[quentinkrisp]

After watching this again, I've come to the conclusion that Mayor Robert Doyle is actually none other than the stapler guy, Milton, from the movie Office Space.

[quentinkrisp]

Excuse the low quality screen grab. I'm sure a better one will come up on youtube later.

[OpenComments]

This is excellent, quentinkrisp. Your apology for the video is unnecessary as the value of the information present far out weighs the video's quality. It's also a great reminder that Australia is actually doing something about it. When will the US gets a politician to speak out against Scientology abuses?

[blessyercottons]

He's like the jeff Stone of Melbourne

[SunBeamsan]

I don't understand why people freak out about Scientology being a cult, last time I checked, ALL religions were cults?

[motomissle]

Doyle is a douche!

[cultssuck]

@mollie2810 I was about to post the same thing mollie!! Love the "new empty buildings" line :)

[mollie2810]

LOL @ new empty buildings. :D

[TheEvilOfScientology]

Thanks for uploading this so quickly, QK.