This developer wants to keep Pesutto on a leash. What's worse, Liberals are entertaining the idea
'The offer appears to be an attempt through a substantial financial inducement to adversely affect the honest performance by a member of the Victorian parliament of his functions in determining what parliamentary position to hold,' Tham told this column.
Barrister Geoffrey Watson, SC, a director of the Centre for Public Integrity, describes it as an affront to democracy. 'It would be a threat hanging over his [Pesutto's] head for the entire time he sits in parliament,' he says. 'It's absolutely and utterly disgusting.'
Deeming says her conscience is clear and the offer to Pesutto was part of a genuine attempt to settle the matter in the best interest of all parties.
There is no suggestion here that Deeming or Grugeon, or Battin for that matter, are corrupt in the ordinary meaning of the word. Neither have sought financial gain from this mess. Their offer is deeply troubling, nonetheless. So too is the gormless misjudgment Battin showed by passing it on.
Grugeon is better known in NSW, where he is chairman of Hunter Land, a company that develops regional residential and business estates. He is also well known to NSW's anti-corruption agency, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, due to his past habit of making political donations in breach of the state's election funding laws.
Grugeon has been helpful to journalists reporting on the Pesutto-Deeming troubles, owing to his willingness to answer the phone and give a quotable quote. When Watson examined Grugeon as counsel assisting for ICAC as part of an investigation into illicit donations by Grugeon and other property developers to Liberal Party figures, he found him less forthcoming.
'He was not an impressive witness,' ICAC noted in its 2016 published findings of Operation Spicer.
Grugeon's name appears more than 121 times in the ICAC report, which found he twice attempted to evade the state's ban against property developers making political donations. One involved a $10,000 cash payment to an MP funnelled through a friendly radio jock and concealed as services rendered. The second involved Grugeon buying a painting from an MP's wife for $10,120, where the artist's work usually sold for under $300.
Grugeon denied the allegations and ICAC made no corruption findings against him. The MPs were forced to quit parliament.
So what was Brad Battin thinking when he passed on to Pesutto an offer that would put one of his MPs in Grugeon's deep pockets? To borrow a line from Succession patriarch Logan Roy, if the Liberals can't see a problem here, you are not serious people.
This column questioned Battin about the role he played in facilitating negotiations between Deeming and Pesutto and whether he passed on communications to Pesutto containing Grugeon's offer of a $1 million loan. Battin declined to publicly discuss his communications with colleagues but said he had never spoken to Grugeon.
Two sources not authorised to discuss internal party matters confirmed that Battin sent Pesutto a text message with the offer. Pesutto says he rejected it out of hand and ceased negotiations with Deeming.
Battin and the 18 other members of the administrative committee which serves as the Victorian Liberal Party's governing body will on Thursday meet at the party's city headquarters to consider a more sensible proposal.
This one, to be presented by Pesutto at the meeting with the support of party president Philip Davis and other office bearers, is for a party entity to lend him at a commercial rate the money he needs to meet his costs order by the court's June 27 deadline – meaning he avoids bankruptcy and retains his marginal seat of Hawthorn.
Loading
Deeming and her self-described confidante, broadcaster Peta Credlin, have made clear their objections to using party money to help Pesutto. Seven members of the administrative committee are thought to be vehemently opposed.
Whatever the outcome of Thursday night's vote, the concerns raised by Tham and Watson should also be dealt with.
Tham believes the seriousness of the conduct involved – conduct concerning the highest political offices in the state – means it falls under IBAC's jurisdiction. 'Given the compelling public interest involved in this episode, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission should launch an own-motion investigation,' he says.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Crime hits record high as youth violence soars
Criminal incidents have soared to a record high in one state, with youth over-represented in violent attacks and cost-of-living linked crimes the fastest growing type of offence. Offences in Victoria soared by 15.2 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, when adjusted for population. The were 627,268 offences recorded, while criminal incidents jumped to 474,927, up 18.1 per cent, the highest number since the Crime Statistics Agency started recording data two decades ago. There was also a record number of family violence incidents, which were up 10.7 per cent to 106,247. Child crime was at its highest level since 1993, when electronic records started, with 3,300 of what Victoria Police described as the "worst youth offenders" arrested. Those aged from 10-17 represented just 13.1 per cent of all offenders, but police said they were over-represented in violent and serious crimes, including robberies and aggravated burglaries. Property crimes were the fastest growing type of offence, which the force attributed to "difficult economic times". They include motor vehicle theft (up 47.1 per cent), theft from a motor vehicle (up 39.3 per cent), retail theft (up 38.6 per cent) and other theft (up 20.5 per cent). Arrests jumped 23 per cent in the last decade, while some 25,917 people were arrested a combined 75,968 times in the last 12 months. The data released on Thursday was recorded before the Victorian government introduced harsher bail laws. Police Minister Anthony Carbines said justice department data showed the number of youths being held on remand had doubled since that legislation came into effect in late March. Adults being held on remand have also jumped by 31 per cent. Mr Carbines said soaring crime figures were being driven by repeat offenders, but the results were unacceptable. "We'll start to see those tougher bail laws have an effect on some of our crime statistics and crime indicators in future quarters," he said. Another round of bail reforms are expected to hit the floor of parliament in late July after the winter break. Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner David Clayton said there was no doubt crime was higher than what the community and police would like it to be. "We know the community has strong concerns around young offenders breaking into homes to steal cars, which are then driven at high speeds on our roads," he said. "This offending has led to catastrophic consequences in the past year, with stolen cars involved in more than 760 crashes and six people losing their lives. He said knife crime was another area of focus, with some 44 blades removed from the streets each day. The release of the figures came a day after shoppers were forced to take cover at Melbourne's Northland Shopping Centre as a Toyota Landcruiser four-wheel drive was seen being driven through the centre of the complex. No one was physically injured in the incident, which Victoria Police alleged occurred as the driver tried to evade officers in the stolen vehicle. A 27-year-old East Melbourne man was arrested early on Thursday. Criminal incidents have soared to a record high in one state, with youth over-represented in violent attacks and cost-of-living linked crimes the fastest growing type of offence. Offences in Victoria soared by 15.2 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, when adjusted for population. The were 627,268 offences recorded, while criminal incidents jumped to 474,927, up 18.1 per cent, the highest number since the Crime Statistics Agency started recording data two decades ago. There was also a record number of family violence incidents, which were up 10.7 per cent to 106,247. Child crime was at its highest level since 1993, when electronic records started, with 3,300 of what Victoria Police described as the "worst youth offenders" arrested. Those aged from 10-17 represented just 13.1 per cent of all offenders, but police said they were over-represented in violent and serious crimes, including robberies and aggravated burglaries. Property crimes were the fastest growing type of offence, which the force attributed to "difficult economic times". They include motor vehicle theft (up 47.1 per cent), theft from a motor vehicle (up 39.3 per cent), retail theft (up 38.6 per cent) and other theft (up 20.5 per cent). Arrests jumped 23 per cent in the last decade, while some 25,917 people were arrested a combined 75,968 times in the last 12 months. The data released on Thursday was recorded before the Victorian government introduced harsher bail laws. Police Minister Anthony Carbines said justice department data showed the number of youths being held on remand had doubled since that legislation came into effect in late March. Adults being held on remand have also jumped by 31 per cent. Mr Carbines said soaring crime figures were being driven by repeat offenders, but the results were unacceptable. "We'll start to see those tougher bail laws have an effect on some of our crime statistics and crime indicators in future quarters," he said. Another round of bail reforms are expected to hit the floor of parliament in late July after the winter break. Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner David Clayton said there was no doubt crime was higher than what the community and police would like it to be. "We know the community has strong concerns around young offenders breaking into homes to steal cars, which are then driven at high speeds on our roads," he said. "This offending has led to catastrophic consequences in the past year, with stolen cars involved in more than 760 crashes and six people losing their lives. He said knife crime was another area of focus, with some 44 blades removed from the streets each day. The release of the figures came a day after shoppers were forced to take cover at Melbourne's Northland Shopping Centre as a Toyota Landcruiser four-wheel drive was seen being driven through the centre of the complex. No one was physically injured in the incident, which Victoria Police alleged occurred as the driver tried to evade officers in the stolen vehicle. A 27-year-old East Melbourne man was arrested early on Thursday. Criminal incidents have soared to a record high in one state, with youth over-represented in violent attacks and cost-of-living linked crimes the fastest growing type of offence. Offences in Victoria soared by 15.2 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, when adjusted for population. The were 627,268 offences recorded, while criminal incidents jumped to 474,927, up 18.1 per cent, the highest number since the Crime Statistics Agency started recording data two decades ago. There was also a record number of family violence incidents, which were up 10.7 per cent to 106,247. Child crime was at its highest level since 1993, when electronic records started, with 3,300 of what Victoria Police described as the "worst youth offenders" arrested. Those aged from 10-17 represented just 13.1 per cent of all offenders, but police said they were over-represented in violent and serious crimes, including robberies and aggravated burglaries. Property crimes were the fastest growing type of offence, which the force attributed to "difficult economic times". They include motor vehicle theft (up 47.1 per cent), theft from a motor vehicle (up 39.3 per cent), retail theft (up 38.6 per cent) and other theft (up 20.5 per cent). Arrests jumped 23 per cent in the last decade, while some 25,917 people were arrested a combined 75,968 times in the last 12 months. The data released on Thursday was recorded before the Victorian government introduced harsher bail laws. Police Minister Anthony Carbines said justice department data showed the number of youths being held on remand had doubled since that legislation came into effect in late March. Adults being held on remand have also jumped by 31 per cent. Mr Carbines said soaring crime figures were being driven by repeat offenders, but the results were unacceptable. "We'll start to see those tougher bail laws have an effect on some of our crime statistics and crime indicators in future quarters," he said. Another round of bail reforms are expected to hit the floor of parliament in late July after the winter break. Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner David Clayton said there was no doubt crime was higher than what the community and police would like it to be. "We know the community has strong concerns around young offenders breaking into homes to steal cars, which are then driven at high speeds on our roads," he said. "This offending has led to catastrophic consequences in the past year, with stolen cars involved in more than 760 crashes and six people losing their lives. He said knife crime was another area of focus, with some 44 blades removed from the streets each day. The release of the figures came a day after shoppers were forced to take cover at Melbourne's Northland Shopping Centre as a Toyota Landcruiser four-wheel drive was seen being driven through the centre of the complex. No one was physically injured in the incident, which Victoria Police alleged occurred as the driver tried to evade officers in the stolen vehicle. A 27-year-old East Melbourne man was arrested early on Thursday. Criminal incidents have soared to a record high in one state, with youth over-represented in violent attacks and cost-of-living linked crimes the fastest growing type of offence. Offences in Victoria soared by 15.2 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, when adjusted for population. The were 627,268 offences recorded, while criminal incidents jumped to 474,927, up 18.1 per cent, the highest number since the Crime Statistics Agency started recording data two decades ago. There was also a record number of family violence incidents, which were up 10.7 per cent to 106,247. Child crime was at its highest level since 1993, when electronic records started, with 3,300 of what Victoria Police described as the "worst youth offenders" arrested. Those aged from 10-17 represented just 13.1 per cent of all offenders, but police said they were over-represented in violent and serious crimes, including robberies and aggravated burglaries. Property crimes were the fastest growing type of offence, which the force attributed to "difficult economic times". They include motor vehicle theft (up 47.1 per cent), theft from a motor vehicle (up 39.3 per cent), retail theft (up 38.6 per cent) and other theft (up 20.5 per cent). Arrests jumped 23 per cent in the last decade, while some 25,917 people were arrested a combined 75,968 times in the last 12 months. The data released on Thursday was recorded before the Victorian government introduced harsher bail laws. Police Minister Anthony Carbines said justice department data showed the number of youths being held on remand had doubled since that legislation came into effect in late March. Adults being held on remand have also jumped by 31 per cent. Mr Carbines said soaring crime figures were being driven by repeat offenders, but the results were unacceptable. "We'll start to see those tougher bail laws have an effect on some of our crime statistics and crime indicators in future quarters," he said. Another round of bail reforms are expected to hit the floor of parliament in late July after the winter break. Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner David Clayton said there was no doubt crime was higher than what the community and police would like it to be. "We know the community has strong concerns around young offenders breaking into homes to steal cars, which are then driven at high speeds on our roads," he said. "This offending has led to catastrophic consequences in the past year, with stolen cars involved in more than 760 crashes and six people losing their lives. He said knife crime was another area of focus, with some 44 blades removed from the streets each day. The release of the figures came a day after shoppers were forced to take cover at Melbourne's Northland Shopping Centre as a Toyota Landcruiser four-wheel drive was seen being driven through the centre of the complex. No one was physically injured in the incident, which Victoria Police alleged occurred as the driver tried to evade officers in the stolen vehicle. A 27-year-old East Melbourne man was arrested early on Thursday.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Crime hits record high as youth violence soars
Criminal incidents have soared to a record high in one state, with youth over-represented in violent attacks and cost-of-living linked crimes the fastest growing type of offence. Offences in Victoria soared by 15.2 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, when adjusted for population. The were 627,268 offences recorded, while criminal incidents jumped to 474,927, up 18.1 per cent, the highest number since the Crime Statistics Agency started recording data two decades ago. There was also a record number of family violence incidents, which were up 10.7 per cent to 106,247. Child crime was at its highest level since 1993, when electronic records started, with 3,300 of what Victoria Police described as the "worst youth offenders" arrested. Those aged from 10-17 represented just 13.1 per cent of all offenders, but police said they were over-represented in violent and serious crimes, including robberies and aggravated burglaries. Property crimes were the fastest growing type of offence, which the force attributed to "difficult economic times". They include motor vehicle theft (up 47.1 per cent), theft from a motor vehicle (up 39.3 per cent), retail theft (up 38.6 per cent) and other theft (up 20.5 per cent). Arrests jumped 23 per cent in the last decade, while some 25,917 people were arrested a combined 75,968 times in the last 12 months. The data released on Thursday was recorded before the Victorian government introduced harsher bail laws. Police Minister Anthony Carbines said justice department data showed the number of youths being held on remand had doubled since that legislation came into effect in late March. Adults being held on remand have also jumped by 31 per cent. Mr Carbines said soaring crime figures were being driven by repeat offenders, but the results were unacceptable. "We'll start to see those tougher bail laws have an effect on some of our crime statistics and crime indicators in future quarters," he said. Another round of bail reforms are expected to hit the floor of parliament in late July after the winter break. Victoria Police acting Deputy Commissioner David Clayton said there was no doubt crime was higher than what the community and police would like it to be. "We know the community has strong concerns around young offenders breaking into homes to steal cars, which are then driven at high speeds on our roads," he said. "This offending has led to catastrophic consequences in the past year, with stolen cars involved in more than 760 crashes and six people losing their lives. He said knife crime was another area of focus, with some 44 blades removed from the streets each day. The release of the figures came a day after shoppers were forced to take cover at Melbourne's Northland Shopping Centre as a Toyota Landcruiser four-wheel drive was seen being driven through the centre of the complex. No one was physically injured in the incident, which Victoria Police alleged occurred as the driver tried to evade officers in the stolen vehicle. A 27-year-old East Melbourne man was arrested early on Thursday.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Victoria is looking into religious cults - here's what it should examine
The Victorian parliament has launched a long-overdue inquiry into abuse and coercive control within cults and religious fringe groups. It is a welcome acknowledgement of the damage that can flourish under the guise of faith, and the unquestioning obedience to authoritarian leaders in religious groups. The inquiry will hear victim-survivors can suffer a diverse range of harms, including sexual, financial and labour exploitation, spiritual manipulation, and institutional betrayal. The inquiry is the first of its kind in Australia. Prompted by recent events, including reports of coercive behaviour at the Geelong Revival Centre, the inquiry will examine "the methods used to recruit and control their members, and the impacts of coercive control". According to the committee's guidance note, the focus will be on techniques that can damage individuals emotionally, psychologically, financially and even physically. Importantly, the inquiry will interrogate "abusive practices", not the beliefs behind them: Consideration will be given to whether the law adequately protects people when cults and fringe groups cause the types of harm that should be criminalised. My research examined the sexual exploitation of congregation members perpetrated by pastors within evangelical, Pentecostal faith communities in Australia. Respondents described feeling broken, shattered, and spiritually battered. The harms were similar to those experienced by survivors of incest, child sexual abuse and domestic violence. For example: As American sociologist and cult expert Janja Lalich explains: My research uncovered instances of sexual exploitation by pastors that constitutes a form of sexual violence and coercive control. The absence of a centralised reporting body means there is no accessible data on the extent of clergy sexual exploitation of adults in Australian faith communities. However, international research found around 3% of churchgoing women had been subjected to sexual advances from a married religious leader. Too often, institutions downplay the abuse as a "moral failing" or a mutual lapse into sin, ignoring the profound power imbalance that makes meaningful consent impossible. Pastor-congregant relationships are not consensual; they are violations of trust and authority. Survivors are often left with no pathways to justice or support because coercive control is not recognised in non-intimate settings. Victim-survivors would benefit from legal reform that formally recognises and criminalises this form of abuse. Coercive control legislation covering institutional and spiritual settings, would help protect congregation members targeted by predator pastors. I was recruited into a Pentecostal church as a teenager through a Bible college that was allowed into my public high school to "preach the gospel". I know firsthand how easily these environments can entrap teenagers at an age when many are seeking identity outside of family. What began as a search for belonging led to years of grooming and coercion, and it took over two decades to name and report the abuse. The response from the church was just as harmful as the abuse itself. The harms often extend beyond sexual exploitation in many of these groups. Marginalised individuals are particularly vulnerable in these environments. LGBTQIA+ people in some evangelical churches have historically been subjected to conversion practices masquerading as prayer, counselling, or pastoral care. In one recent example, an evangelical church in New South Wales preached from the pulpit: This kind of messaging doesn't protect children - it instils fear, shame, and self-hatred. It reflects a deeper pattern of spiritual abuse that pathologises identity and uses fear to exert control. The consequences are devastating, especially for young people already struggling to reconcile faith, identity, and belonging. Many people fail to grasp how intelligent adults can become trapped in such environments. But coercive control is not about intelligence - it's about power, dependency, and the slow erosion of critical thinking by spiritual authority. While coercive control in family violence is finally being addressed, spiritual and sexual coercive control within faith communities, cults, and fringe groups remains in a legal blind spot. This is exactly why the Victorian probe and follow-up law reform are both necessary. The inquiry should provide a framework for other states and territories to follow suit and scrutinise cults and organised fringe groups in their own jurisdictions. Lead author Jaime Simpson is a survivor of sexual exploitation in an evangelical community. The research mentioned is this article was conducted by her. Jaime Simpson, Doctoral Researcher, Domestic Family Violence Counsellor, University of Newcastle and Kathleen McPhillips, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Victorian parliament has launched a long-overdue inquiry into abuse and coercive control within cults and religious fringe groups. It is a welcome acknowledgement of the damage that can flourish under the guise of faith, and the unquestioning obedience to authoritarian leaders in religious groups. The inquiry will hear victim-survivors can suffer a diverse range of harms, including sexual, financial and labour exploitation, spiritual manipulation, and institutional betrayal. The inquiry is the first of its kind in Australia. Prompted by recent events, including reports of coercive behaviour at the Geelong Revival Centre, the inquiry will examine "the methods used to recruit and control their members, and the impacts of coercive control". According to the committee's guidance note, the focus will be on techniques that can damage individuals emotionally, psychologically, financially and even physically. Importantly, the inquiry will interrogate "abusive practices", not the beliefs behind them: Consideration will be given to whether the law adequately protects people when cults and fringe groups cause the types of harm that should be criminalised. My research examined the sexual exploitation of congregation members perpetrated by pastors within evangelical, Pentecostal faith communities in Australia. Respondents described feeling broken, shattered, and spiritually battered. The harms were similar to those experienced by survivors of incest, child sexual abuse and domestic violence. For example: As American sociologist and cult expert Janja Lalich explains: My research uncovered instances of sexual exploitation by pastors that constitutes a form of sexual violence and coercive control. The absence of a centralised reporting body means there is no accessible data on the extent of clergy sexual exploitation of adults in Australian faith communities. However, international research found around 3% of churchgoing women had been subjected to sexual advances from a married religious leader. Too often, institutions downplay the abuse as a "moral failing" or a mutual lapse into sin, ignoring the profound power imbalance that makes meaningful consent impossible. Pastor-congregant relationships are not consensual; they are violations of trust and authority. Survivors are often left with no pathways to justice or support because coercive control is not recognised in non-intimate settings. Victim-survivors would benefit from legal reform that formally recognises and criminalises this form of abuse. Coercive control legislation covering institutional and spiritual settings, would help protect congregation members targeted by predator pastors. I was recruited into a Pentecostal church as a teenager through a Bible college that was allowed into my public high school to "preach the gospel". I know firsthand how easily these environments can entrap teenagers at an age when many are seeking identity outside of family. What began as a search for belonging led to years of grooming and coercion, and it took over two decades to name and report the abuse. The response from the church was just as harmful as the abuse itself. The harms often extend beyond sexual exploitation in many of these groups. Marginalised individuals are particularly vulnerable in these environments. LGBTQIA+ people in some evangelical churches have historically been subjected to conversion practices masquerading as prayer, counselling, or pastoral care. In one recent example, an evangelical church in New South Wales preached from the pulpit: This kind of messaging doesn't protect children - it instils fear, shame, and self-hatred. It reflects a deeper pattern of spiritual abuse that pathologises identity and uses fear to exert control. The consequences are devastating, especially for young people already struggling to reconcile faith, identity, and belonging. Many people fail to grasp how intelligent adults can become trapped in such environments. But coercive control is not about intelligence - it's about power, dependency, and the slow erosion of critical thinking by spiritual authority. While coercive control in family violence is finally being addressed, spiritual and sexual coercive control within faith communities, cults, and fringe groups remains in a legal blind spot. This is exactly why the Victorian probe and follow-up law reform are both necessary. The inquiry should provide a framework for other states and territories to follow suit and scrutinise cults and organised fringe groups in their own jurisdictions. Lead author Jaime Simpson is a survivor of sexual exploitation in an evangelical community. The research mentioned is this article was conducted by her. Jaime Simpson, Doctoral Researcher, Domestic Family Violence Counsellor, University of Newcastle and Kathleen McPhillips, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Victorian parliament has launched a long-overdue inquiry into abuse and coercive control within cults and religious fringe groups. It is a welcome acknowledgement of the damage that can flourish under the guise of faith, and the unquestioning obedience to authoritarian leaders in religious groups. The inquiry will hear victim-survivors can suffer a diverse range of harms, including sexual, financial and labour exploitation, spiritual manipulation, and institutional betrayal. The inquiry is the first of its kind in Australia. Prompted by recent events, including reports of coercive behaviour at the Geelong Revival Centre, the inquiry will examine "the methods used to recruit and control their members, and the impacts of coercive control". According to the committee's guidance note, the focus will be on techniques that can damage individuals emotionally, psychologically, financially and even physically. Importantly, the inquiry will interrogate "abusive practices", not the beliefs behind them: Consideration will be given to whether the law adequately protects people when cults and fringe groups cause the types of harm that should be criminalised. My research examined the sexual exploitation of congregation members perpetrated by pastors within evangelical, Pentecostal faith communities in Australia. Respondents described feeling broken, shattered, and spiritually battered. The harms were similar to those experienced by survivors of incest, child sexual abuse and domestic violence. For example: As American sociologist and cult expert Janja Lalich explains: My research uncovered instances of sexual exploitation by pastors that constitutes a form of sexual violence and coercive control. The absence of a centralised reporting body means there is no accessible data on the extent of clergy sexual exploitation of adults in Australian faith communities. However, international research found around 3% of churchgoing women had been subjected to sexual advances from a married religious leader. Too often, institutions downplay the abuse as a "moral failing" or a mutual lapse into sin, ignoring the profound power imbalance that makes meaningful consent impossible. Pastor-congregant relationships are not consensual; they are violations of trust and authority. Survivors are often left with no pathways to justice or support because coercive control is not recognised in non-intimate settings. Victim-survivors would benefit from legal reform that formally recognises and criminalises this form of abuse. Coercive control legislation covering institutional and spiritual settings, would help protect congregation members targeted by predator pastors. I was recruited into a Pentecostal church as a teenager through a Bible college that was allowed into my public high school to "preach the gospel". I know firsthand how easily these environments can entrap teenagers at an age when many are seeking identity outside of family. What began as a search for belonging led to years of grooming and coercion, and it took over two decades to name and report the abuse. The response from the church was just as harmful as the abuse itself. The harms often extend beyond sexual exploitation in many of these groups. Marginalised individuals are particularly vulnerable in these environments. LGBTQIA+ people in some evangelical churches have historically been subjected to conversion practices masquerading as prayer, counselling, or pastoral care. In one recent example, an evangelical church in New South Wales preached from the pulpit: This kind of messaging doesn't protect children - it instils fear, shame, and self-hatred. It reflects a deeper pattern of spiritual abuse that pathologises identity and uses fear to exert control. The consequences are devastating, especially for young people already struggling to reconcile faith, identity, and belonging. Many people fail to grasp how intelligent adults can become trapped in such environments. But coercive control is not about intelligence - it's about power, dependency, and the slow erosion of critical thinking by spiritual authority. While coercive control in family violence is finally being addressed, spiritual and sexual coercive control within faith communities, cults, and fringe groups remains in a legal blind spot. This is exactly why the Victorian probe and follow-up law reform are both necessary. The inquiry should provide a framework for other states and territories to follow suit and scrutinise cults and organised fringe groups in their own jurisdictions. Lead author Jaime Simpson is a survivor of sexual exploitation in an evangelical community. The research mentioned is this article was conducted by her. Jaime Simpson, Doctoral Researcher, Domestic Family Violence Counsellor, University of Newcastle and Kathleen McPhillips, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Victorian parliament has launched a long-overdue inquiry into abuse and coercive control within cults and religious fringe groups. It is a welcome acknowledgement of the damage that can flourish under the guise of faith, and the unquestioning obedience to authoritarian leaders in religious groups. The inquiry will hear victim-survivors can suffer a diverse range of harms, including sexual, financial and labour exploitation, spiritual manipulation, and institutional betrayal. The inquiry is the first of its kind in Australia. Prompted by recent events, including reports of coercive behaviour at the Geelong Revival Centre, the inquiry will examine "the methods used to recruit and control their members, and the impacts of coercive control". According to the committee's guidance note, the focus will be on techniques that can damage individuals emotionally, psychologically, financially and even physically. Importantly, the inquiry will interrogate "abusive practices", not the beliefs behind them: Consideration will be given to whether the law adequately protects people when cults and fringe groups cause the types of harm that should be criminalised. My research examined the sexual exploitation of congregation members perpetrated by pastors within evangelical, Pentecostal faith communities in Australia. Respondents described feeling broken, shattered, and spiritually battered. The harms were similar to those experienced by survivors of incest, child sexual abuse and domestic violence. For example: As American sociologist and cult expert Janja Lalich explains: My research uncovered instances of sexual exploitation by pastors that constitutes a form of sexual violence and coercive control. The absence of a centralised reporting body means there is no accessible data on the extent of clergy sexual exploitation of adults in Australian faith communities. However, international research found around 3% of churchgoing women had been subjected to sexual advances from a married religious leader. Too often, institutions downplay the abuse as a "moral failing" or a mutual lapse into sin, ignoring the profound power imbalance that makes meaningful consent impossible. Pastor-congregant relationships are not consensual; they are violations of trust and authority. Survivors are often left with no pathways to justice or support because coercive control is not recognised in non-intimate settings. Victim-survivors would benefit from legal reform that formally recognises and criminalises this form of abuse. Coercive control legislation covering institutional and spiritual settings, would help protect congregation members targeted by predator pastors. I was recruited into a Pentecostal church as a teenager through a Bible college that was allowed into my public high school to "preach the gospel". I know firsthand how easily these environments can entrap teenagers at an age when many are seeking identity outside of family. What began as a search for belonging led to years of grooming and coercion, and it took over two decades to name and report the abuse. The response from the church was just as harmful as the abuse itself. The harms often extend beyond sexual exploitation in many of these groups. Marginalised individuals are particularly vulnerable in these environments. LGBTQIA+ people in some evangelical churches have historically been subjected to conversion practices masquerading as prayer, counselling, or pastoral care. In one recent example, an evangelical church in New South Wales preached from the pulpit: This kind of messaging doesn't protect children - it instils fear, shame, and self-hatred. It reflects a deeper pattern of spiritual abuse that pathologises identity and uses fear to exert control. The consequences are devastating, especially for young people already struggling to reconcile faith, identity, and belonging. Many people fail to grasp how intelligent adults can become trapped in such environments. But coercive control is not about intelligence - it's about power, dependency, and the slow erosion of critical thinking by spiritual authority. While coercive control in family violence is finally being addressed, spiritual and sexual coercive control within faith communities, cults, and fringe groups remains in a legal blind spot. This is exactly why the Victorian probe and follow-up law reform are both necessary. The inquiry should provide a framework for other states and territories to follow suit and scrutinise cults and organised fringe groups in their own jurisdictions. Lead author Jaime Simpson is a survivor of sexual exploitation in an evangelical community. The research mentioned is this article was conducted by her. Jaime Simpson, Doctoral Researcher, Domestic Family Violence Counsellor, University of Newcastle and Kathleen McPhillips, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Newcastle This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
