The Democrats have successfully referred Mercy Ministries to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC), which will investigate the Christian crisis refuge for allegedly misleading troubled women.
The ACCC will look into allegations that women with eating disorders and mental illnesses were led to believe they would receive free, specialist mental health services, when in fact they received Bible studies, exorcisms and ‘separation trysts’.
Chris Bowen, federal Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, advised Democrats Senator Lyn Allison of the investigation, which comes after Allison moved a Senate motion for an inquiry in March.
“It is high time this religious group was investigated and called to account for what their victims describe as emotional and spiritual abuse,” Allison said in a statement last week.
The investigation comes after a number of young women spoke out last month about the emotional trauma they experienced when given no professional care from psychologists, dieticians, general practitioners, social workers, counsellors and program staff.
Allison claims Mercy Ministries advertised their program as ‘free’, which could be seen as misleading since the female participants were required to sign over all their Centrelink benefits to the refuge.
“If the courts find this not to be the case then the law should be changed to protect such vulnerable people,” Allison said.
Last month, Peter Irvine, executive director of Mercy Ministries, denied running an anti-gay program. Irvine told SX, “a small number of applicants have openly stated that they were confused about their sexuality”.
“We always explain where we stand on the issue but do not knock back any young women who still want to come into the program.”
Adam Bub
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