Aussie council rejects application from ‘doomsday cult’ to change its building use to an educational establishment

A local government council has rejected a development application from a “religious cult,” effectively banning it from teaching out of an office building it occupies in an inner city suburb of a major Australian city.

The Town of Cambridge received an application from the International Education Organisation, which a former member claims is a front for the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

The proponents wanted to change the building use of the office space it occupies in West Leederville to an educational establishment in an inner city suburban area of Perth.

But residents opposed the development application, with one person writing to the council saying it was a “stretch” to call the proposal an educational establishment.

In documents published by the local government, the resident stated the application should be rejected on the grounds that media reports had suggested the group was more of a “religious cult than a place where students might enrol for a well-rounded education.”

Parents who had children involved with the group also opposed the application submitting horror stories to the council during the consultation period about how they lost contact with their children who had become involved with the organisation.

One parent wrote their son had been a member of the “cult” and was connected to about 30 other former members who could testify to the emotional damage and distress the organisation had caused them.

The parent said the group used “aggressive and coercive tactics” to target young members whose lives were affected once under “mind control” of the cult.

Another parent raised concerns with the council that the group had recruited students from the University of Western Australia and Curtin University on the premise they would be attending non-denominational bible studies.

“They are regarded by mainstream Christianity as a Doomsday Messianic Cult, that is to say their founder has convinced all members that no one can get to heaven without a full understanding of his divine interpretation of salvation,” a parent stated in their submission.

A former member of the church also opposed the application telling the council in their submission that the International Education Organisation was a front for the church.

Town officers had recommended approving the application based on the proposed change of use, but councillors unanimously rejected the proposal.

Mayor Gary Mack spoke against the officer’s recommendation during the council meeting saying there were substantial concerns that the building was not being used as indicated, as well as other issues of noise, parking and operating hours.

“These are valid planning issues as to whether we approve a development application from a departure from an existing use to a new use,” he said.

“We have had many deputations from people from members of the public and the proponent has a right to appeal any decision, but I think at this stage there are sufficient planning reasons not to go ahead with this.”