Religious vilification complaint against Alpha course

A particular complaint of 'religious vilification' in Victoria sent shock waves throughout the entire Christian community in 2005. 

A paedophile prison inmate called Robin Fletcher made a complaint against Alpha courses being held in prison, saying they were 'religious vilification against his religion'.

He also called for ALPHA courses to be closed down in Victoria under Victoria's Racial & Religious Tolerance Act.

Victoria's Equal Opportunity Commission declined to accept the complaint.

However, Robin Fletcher took the case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The case was heard by Justice Morris. He dismissed the complaint on 1 August 2005.

This page provides a link to Justice Morris' decision - and gives information on the relevant dates and events in this case.

1 August 2005
On 1 August, Justice Stuart Morris dismissed the complaint of religious vilification against Alpha courses, made by witch Robin Fletcher. The complaints were against the Salvation Army and CMC Australasia (the distributors of Alpha). A third complaint against Corrections Victoria still remains.

Click here for the website page at VCAT listing the decision.

Click here for the FULL 9-page decision.

A comment on the decision and an Overview of the decision was sent by email.
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Evangelism Banned?

Alpha is one of the main evangelistic programs, used by most denominations, across Australia.

21 April 2005
A directions hearing was held this morning (21 April 2005) at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in Melbourne. (VCAT)
Today's VCAT law list notice - "ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LIST - Directions Hearing Before Deputy President A. Coghlan at 10:00 AM"

The complaint, made by Robin Fletcher, is in relation to an Alpha course run by the Salvation Army in Ararat jail.

Fletcher is a self confessed witch and is currently in Ararat prison, having been convicted of sexual abuse against two teenage girls in 1998. He was jailed for 10 years.

Fletcher lodged complaints against the Salvation Army (because it was a Salvation Army chaplain who ran the course); Corrections Victoria (the Victorian government section of the Justice Department that runs the prison system) and CMC Australasia P/L (the distributors of the Alpha program materials in Victoria).

Fletcher is complaining about references to witchcraft in the Alpha course videos and manuals.

In his EOC complaint he called for ALPHA courses to be stopped throughout Victoria "until suitable modifications can be made to bring it into conformity with the law in Victoria."

Clearly he wants all references to witchcraft and the occult removed BUT this would entail changing the BIBLE because all references used are Scriptural.

The Equal Opportunity Commission 'declined to entertain the complaint'. However, Fletcher asked that the complaint be referred to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, hence today's hearing.

The VCAT Deputy President gave Fletcher three weeks to lodge his formal complaint to VCAT. A timetable was set down for responses from the other parties.

Robin Fletcher stated in his letter to Corrections Victoria
"The first program I wish to complain about is the Alpha program. I consider that this program is in violation of the Equal Opportunity ACT Vic. and also of the Religious Tolerance ACT Vic. I ask that you ban the ALPHA program in all prisons in Victoria until this matter is resolved...."
"I am further asking for the discontinuation of the Alpha program because it constitutes a personal danger to my health and safety within the prison system.
In this case, because the matter is a serious one involving potential of physical harm to myself and others you may be vicariously in breach of the 'serious violations section' of the Religious Tolerance ACT.'

We will be distributing more information on this case as soon as possible.
We accessed the files at VCAT to obtain the above information on the complaint.

27 April 2005: Update - Media reports
Several major reports have appeared in the media concerning the complaint brought by Robin Fletcher, a witch in prison on sexual abuse charges, against Alpha courses. Peter has done an interview for Vision FM Christian radio and Jenny has written an article for New Life and done an interview on Religion Report.

Jailed witch to sue
Liam Houlihan and Kate Uebergang, Herald Sun , Wednesday 27 April 2005.

Dump this law now
Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun column, Wednesday 27 April 2005.

Religious vilification in Victoria
Religion Report, ABC, 27 April 2005. Wednesdays at 8.30am, repeated at 8.00pm.
Audio and transcript are available.

Witch's Complaint Renews Focus on Religious Hatred Law
By Patrick Goodenough, CNSNews.com International Editor, April 25, 2005

Religious Vilification
Jenny Stokes, New Life, 5 May 2005 - article for New Life

23 May 2005 - Update
A hearing was held at VCAT involving CMC Australasia (Alpha distributors) and Salvation Army. On Friday 20 May we learned that a 'Directions' hearing for the complaint by witch Robin Fletcher - against the distributors of the Alpha course and the Salvation Army - had been called for today (23 May) at 10 am.
Even the legal representatives of the parties were not aware of the reason for the hearing.
The President of the Tribunal, Justice Stuart Morris, was listed to conduct the Directions hearing. Peter attended the hearing to assess the situation.
Justice Morris opened the proceedings. It appears that he called the meeting to make orders relating to the intention of CMC (distributors of Alpha)/Salvation Army to lodge a 'strike-out motion' or an application for the Tribunal to dismiss the complaint on the basis it is vexatious or misconceived.
He apparently had not realised that these arrangements had already been made at the hearing on 21 April. The hearing was a waste of time for all concerned!
The 'strike out' motion will be heard at the Tribunal on June 15 at 10 am.

VCAT Decision Full Report Robin Fletcher v Salvation Army and CMC 2005

Decision is online at Austlii - click here.

15 June 2005: Alpha complaint - hearing of the 'dismissal motion'
A hearing was held at VCAT on 15 June to consider a 'strike-out' or dismissal motion from the distributors of Alpha and the Salvation Army. Justice Stuart Morris, the President of VCAT heard the submissions. The legal firms for each party had each provided a 10 page submission to support their call for the complaint by Robin Fletcher, a witch currently in Ararat prison, to be dismissed. Fletcher spoke to the Tribunal by videophone. The hearing was limited to one hour and Justice Morris said he would primarily consider the written submissions and Fletcher's written response. He said he would announce his decision in about two weeks.

Corrections Victoria:
Robin Fletcher has lodged his complaint against Corrections Victoria and the hearing for that matter has been set for a 3 day hearing starting at 10 am on 13 September 2005.