Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I am mindful of being named in that report. I do not have it at hand. But I want to put on record that I have absolutely no concern with citizens who might feel aggrieved in one way or another having their point of view put in this place. I think that it is a good practice.

Question agreed to.

The response read as follows—

Appendix One

Response by Mr & Mrs A Bird, Pursuant to Resolution 5(7)(B) of the Senate of 25 February 1988

We write as aggrieved members of the Exclusive Brethren in relation to comments made on Tuesday 26 August 2008, at approx 5:57 PM, by Senator Christine Milne from Tasmania to the Senate generally on the subject of making an inquiry into certain matters relating to our Church.

In her address, Senator Milne stated: When I taught at Devonport High School back in the early 1980’s at that stage there were no Exclusive Brethren schools as such and some of the students came to Devonport High. I had a particularly bright young woman in my class, and I urged her to go on to Don College …”

As Brenda came from Devonport and attended Devonport High School at around the time referred to, she is quite familiar with the persons referred to by Mrs Christine Milne.

We wish to address the statements made by Senator Milne in her address:

(i)

Senator Milne commented that girls are not allowed to do manual arts subjects. This is totally inaccurate. It was a requirement for all students to undertake woodwork, metalwork & technical drawing at this school. We are not aware of any exemption granted.

(ii)

Senator Milne stated that students would not be going on to further education. As no further years were offered past Year 10 at Devonport High School, it was necessary to attend another College for further study, which many persons did, Exclusive Brethren members included.

(iii)

Senator Milne stated that our marriages are arranged. This was certainly not the case for every couple that we have ever known in the Church, and was certainly not the case for ourselves. We first met through social contact and from this contact our relationship developed completely on our own initiative and commitment.

(iv)

Senator Milne commented that within the Church married women are precluded form working. This is not so, we are aware of many married female persons in the workforce from our Church.

We feel that Senator Milne has maligned the members of the Exclusive Brethren Church.

Her quotations are incorrect and they display her obvious dislike for what our organisation stands for. She has taken her inaccurate memories and assumptions from one student to brand our whole Church as being a ruthless, illegal sect. This is certainly not the accurate, fair or unbiased outlook that we expect to see from members of the Australian Government.

As we greatly respect the Australian Parliamentary system and all that it stands for, we feel that it is only right that a balanced account should be on record of what the facts actually were in the years that Senator Milne refers to in her address.

(signed)

Anthony & Brenda Bird