cults and fringe groups

[tllwd]

The Committee is looking into cults and fringe groups in Victoria—how they recruit and control people—and will report back by 30 September 2026.

https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/cofg

Is it a long-overdue inquiry into abuse and coercive control within cults and religious fringe groups or political witch hunt?

The Australian Christian Lobby has warned that a Victorian parliamentary committee inquiry into cults and their coercive practices could impact the “Christian church” and restrict freedom of religion.

https://www.facebook.com/RationalistSoc ... 435531282/

[mellie]

The Committee is looking into cults and fringe groups in Victoria—how they recruit and control people—and will report back by 30 September 2026.

https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/cofg

Is it a long-overdue inquiry into abuse and coercive control within cults and religious fringe groups or political witch hunt?

The Australian Christian Lobby has warned that a Victorian parliamentary committee inquiry into cults and their coercive practices could impact the “Christian church” and restrict freedom of religion.

https://www.facebook.com/RationalistSoc ... 435531282/

I think our Victorian government will be busy with other more pressing issues from here on.

[Jasin]

I think the Media has become a bit of a cult.
Look at some of those programs that promote fighting, back stabbing and more from contestants for drama ratings.
All for prize money.

[mellie]

I think the Media has become a bit of a cult.
Look at some of those programs that promote fighting, back stabbing and more from contestants for drama ratings.
All for prize money.

Exactly. In other words, the Victorian state funded communist party is opposed to Christianity, and is happy to persecute Christians worshipping "their way" but won't criticise extremists in certain other ideologies causing social problems.

Cults are usually filled with damaged mentally unwell people, with this in mind, will the Victorian government make provisions for these vulnerable people? Housing, mental health care services, financial support when they wipe out their usually small communities pooling welfare checks for survival?

There's a commune on the outskirts of Ballarat, I took a wrong turn ( GPS failure lol) on my way to Avalon airport a few years ago, before Covid, and was a little spooked when I drove into what was obviously a community of rough dwellings. Caravans, tents and other slap together structures, I was too busy trying to figure out how to get out of there when I spotted an older man with a rifle.
There were kids running around, looking very unkept, and later on when describing what I drove into to a local, they said it was a religious group, not so much as a cult, rather was a group of Christians who were living together out of perceived necessity, the complex was very ran down, and the old bloke with the rifle scared the hell out of me because I had to drive into their circular driveway inorder to turn around to get out.

I hope the kids are attending school, the Victorian government doesn't care about truancy with mainstream kids, I doubt they'll bother approaching a commune that has a leader welcoming DHS workers with a firearm.

I dare say there's more of these communities than we know about, but to call them "Cults" seems to be for media hype purposes, because nothing about that community I stumbled upon even looked remotely Christian.

There are however may "spiritual" sects leading alternative lifestyles in Victoria and especially Tasmania.

Often these sects are filled with those with intellectual or mental health issues, who rely on the community to support them.

Kinda sad when you think about it, I just hope the government has somewhere to relocate these poor sods to when start cleaning them up.

[mellie]

To clarify, the elderly gentleman with the firearm didn't threaten me in anyway, he was simply carrying it and was seemingly busying himself with something on the property. He was however an intimidating presence, because I had taken a wrong turn, and was in a hurry to pick a relative up from the airport, and then inorder to get out of this property and back onto the main road, I had to drive deeper into the compound itself, where there was a rough circular dirt driveway so I could turn back around.

Perhaps they should erect some gates?

Then I wouldn't have driven into their spooky little compound to begin with.

[tllwd]

Back in 1980s I did geophysical survey in Victoria in place called Mount Piper. There was community there ran by bikers who grew dope there and I was threaten with guns when passing on their land. Paranoid fools thought I was there to steal their marijuana.

[mellie]

Back in 1980s I did geophysical survey in Victoria in place called Mount Piper. There was community there ran by bikers who grew dope there and I was threaten with guns when passing on their land. Paranoid fools thought I was there to steal their marijuana.

Oh Jeeze, this is the feeling I got when I had to keep driving into their ridiculous driveway trap, just so I could turnaround.
My poor mum was stranded at the airport, and these wierdos were paranoid, probably thought I was a DHS worker or something.
The old guy with the gun made his gun very visible without being threatening..... but I definitely didn't feel safe, and these kids were absolutely grotty, half dressed, and it was cold too.

No shoes , no shirts or jumpers , just looked feral.

Wondering now if what I stumbled upon were some caretakers of a dope plantation Tld. You got me thinking.

But I won't be returning to check. Lol

I'll pass on that I think.

........

I mentioned this place I accidentally found to colleagues ( was working for community health at the time) and a few said that there was a known commune out off that road ( Yendon No 1 Rd) .... and that I'd likely stumbled upon their property.
Apparently there's a few on Ballarats outskirts... mostly harmless.

Still, as a lone woman trying to get to the airport and back before 3pm school pick up, I was a bit scared.

I ended up calling mum, because I was afraid I wouldn't get back by 3pm and turned back so she ended up getting the sky bus back to Southern Cross.

The gun bit unerved me a trifle. Stupid old GPS, I use my phone now.

[mellie]

"Mount Piper, located near Broadford in Victoria, Australia, is a nature conservation reserve known for its walking tracks and diverse wildlife." ...... wildlife indeed

Ballarats wildlife can be interesting too, particularly during zombie hour ...2 to 3 am.... Don't get me started about this.

It's why we have 24/7 surveillance!