[Greens-Media] Howard has explaining to do on Exclusive Brethren - Brown

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Wednesday 27 September 2006

Howard has explaining to do on Exclusive Brethren - Brown

The Prime Minister has a lot more to explain to the electorate about his
association with the elders of the Exclusive Brethren sect, Greens
Leader Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

"Last November the department of Prime Minister and Cabinet responded to
an FOI request (see attached) that there was no record of prime
ministerial meetings with the sect elders. However on Friday, to a
Greens' question from October last year, the Prime Minister revealed he
has met with the elders.

"The question now is where, when and what transpired," Senator Brown
said.

It took 11 months to extract this answer.

"Mr Howard has thrown up a murky smokescreen over his government's
relationship with this shadowy group which has spent huge amounts of
money promoting the Coalition's cause.

"A starting question is why this wealthy sect has been able to exclude
unions from 30 of its workplaces under Howard's industrial relations
legislation. The other questions include the sect's tax exemption status
and its prohibition on children attending universities," Senator Brown
said.

Mr Howard recently attacked other radical groups for their
'un-Australian' behaviour. The Exclusive Brethren sect excludes married
women from workplaces altogether and single women are forbidden from any
job where they have authority over men.

"Muslim children in Australia are not prohibited from their basic right
to a university education. Apparently this Prime Minister think this
radical Christian sect is beyond public admonition," Senator Brown said.

"Far from admonition, he backs them to the hilt:
		"I have to say that strikes me as what you might call an
unorthodox Christian...it strikes me as a little unusual, but that is
their right and should be respected."
		Prime Minister John Howard, ABC Radio Wednesday 27
September.

Further information: Prue Cameron 0408 473 379


--------------------------------------------------------------
Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au