No replies to this topic

[Rhythm]

Church of Scientology 231-251 Mt. Alexander Rd. Ascot Vale Vic 3032.
Submission to:
Fair Work Act Review
Fair Work Australia
Level 4, 11 Exhibition Street,
Melbourne, 3000
February 15, 2012

Dear Sirs,
As a stakeholder, I would like to submit the following to the review panel:
The Fair Work Act serves a valid purpose in regard to commercial and industrial organisations; but it was never intended to cover churches and other purely volunteer organisations. Australians are entitled to volunteer their time for causes of their own choice.
There is nothing wrong with the concept: "a fair day's pay for a fair day's work" but it is misdirected when applied to religious volunteers whose focus is not on pay but on service to a spiritual cause. Historically, members of religious orders have taken a vow of poverty, embracing a life of service and eschewing financial reward At the present time, there are church volunteers who are not vowed to poverty; but who do volunteer their time and effort to church work, without focus on financial reward.
To force churches to pay these volunteers wages similar to those of commercial organisations is to treat organisations which are quite different as if they were the same. Non profit organisations are not in a position to pay award wages, and the demand that they do so is nothing less than a demand that will force the religious organisations to close. This is a violation of human rights. A review of the Fair Work Act is needed so that it does not continue to be misapplied in regard to religions.
Yours faithfully
Reverend Mary Anderson
Director of Public Affairs
Church of Scientology
231-251 Mt. Alexander Rd.
Ascot Vale Vic 3032.