Not sure if you'd consider this a win but i've got the ball rolling

Office of the Hon Chris Bowen MP

Assistant Treasurer

Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs

Dear Mr….

Thank you for your email of 11 August 2008, originally directed to the Prime Minister, concering taxation concessions available to the Church of Scientology. Your email has been referred to the Assitant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs as he has portfolio responsibility for this matter. The Minister has asked me to respond to you. I apologise for the delay in responding.

A charity is an entity established for a public benefit that the law regards as charitable. A charity must be a not for profit entity, trust fund or institution that exists for the public benefit or the relief of poverty. Examples of charities include aged persons' homes, homeless hostels and organisations releiving the special needs of people with disabilities, public educational institutions and societies that promote the fine arts. the advancement of religion, in one form or another, has also been part of charity throughout the history of charity law.

I note your concerns about the definition of a religious organisation that has been adpoted by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The factors used in this definition were established by the High Court in The Church of the New Faith v. Commissioner of Pay-roll Tax (Vic) 83 ATC 4652; (1983) 14 ATR 769 (the Scientology case). In this case the High Court found Scientology to be a religion. Since then, the 2001 Report of the Inquiry into the Definition of Charities and related Organisations concluded that there was no reason to move away from a definition of religion based on the factors considered in the Scientology case.

The government provides a range of tax concessions to charities such as an income tax exemption, goods and services tax concessions, a fringe benefits tax rebate and refundable imputation credits. As such, the Government is mindful of the need to safeguard against the potential abuse of the tax status of charities.

The Commissioner of Taxation ahs responsibility for administering the law relating to the endorsement of charities. The ATO is required to carry out regular reviews of endorsed organisations and their operations to ensure they continue to meet the requirements of endorsement. The ATO publishes details of specific areas of focus for review on an annual basis.

As a further accountability measure charities must be endorsed by the ATO in order to benefit from any relevant tax concessions. Endorsed organisations have their charitable status attached to their Australian Business Number, and these details can be accessed by the public through the Australian Business Register at: http://www.abr.business.gov.au.

I trust this information will be of assistance to you.

Yours sincerely

Luke Spear

Departmental Liaison Officer

yes..i've done the work for you

these are the search listings

http://www.abr.business.gov.au/(cchqgo55sdcqv52m3p0wffmw)/search.aspx?SearchText=Scientology&StartSearch=True

Now from observation they get two concessions namely,

GST and Income Tax Exemption. I guess a simple way to look at this is to ask the ATO what do they consider charitable about Scientology. But that's only a start. I think there are many more arguments but i'm exhausted after work meh.

Sent this to the ATO through the complaints feedback form, I can't be bothered writing into them but I will

if it comes to it.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am interested in why the Church of Scientology, receive GST and income tax exemption. I have read the High Court ruling in this matter and whilst it technically may be considered a religion, I am a bit confused as to how this "church" exactly benefits the general population. Whilst this is my opinion, which I am entitled to, it seems that a majority of people have similiar views. From all the factual documentation I have reviewed, studies and criminal proceedings against this organization and serious allegations of psychological abuse and in a case against a woman in the United States of America known as Lisa Mcpherson whom died under suspicious circumstances, I am genuinely concerned this religion is abusive and has serious flaws. I understand that without the endorsement of the ATO this organization would receive no such exemption, as has been replied in letters from a respondent to the Assistant Treasurer, the Honourable Chris Brown MP and South Australian Treasurer, the Honourable Kevin Foley MP. I am asking why this religion is endorsed by the ATO. In these times of economic hardship it seems frustrating that such a religion, which has no obvious charitable values to the general population is still allowed to receive such tax exemption and whose conduct is constantly being brought into question not only in Australia, but internationally. In my opinion, this religion is a profitable business, reaping money from those mentally vulnerable. In my opinion, they should be taxed. I am not happy with an outdated ruling from a High Court ruling in 1983. Seeing this case reviewed again in the High Court would be near impossible, which is why I am trying to tackle this from a different angle.

I hope to receive a reply soon, preferably written.

Yours Sincerely,

*

ruling from a High Court ruling, fuck i'm tired. Oh well. I honestly hope my personal information isn't passed on from any of the people I write to, i'd be screwed, I have a criminal record and the CoS would make my life hell. Oh well you only live once which is why i'm doing this. Fuck them. Everyone has past regrets, the general population forgives and forgets, the CoS never does until your demised. I hate Word I type it in there and try and paste it in here and the formatting gets all screwy blast.

nice one Schweinstein

id be careful tho, ….the hills have eyes…..

the hills are alive with the sound of scientology!