John Wiseman; 11/7/08
The South Australian Government was at odds with the Church of Scientology last night after backing the right of a senior state minister to brand its members “bastards”. Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith has also questioned the organisation’s tax-free status in comments to an anti-Scientology group called Anonymous, which it posted on popular internet site YouTube. While declaring Dr Lomax-Smith was entitled to her opinion, a spokeswoman for Premier Mike Rann distanced the Government from the remarks, saying they represented a private view. The Church of Scientology, whose devotees include actor Tom Cruise and, reputedly, billionaire businessman James Packer, has complained to Mr Rann. In a statement issued yesterday by its Sydney office, the church said Dr Lomax-Smith had a duty to refrain from making derogatory public comments that promoted intolerance.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24001920-5013404,00.html