Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee
Inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups
Conducting Public Hearings
This page will be updated with further information and hearing dates once confirmed.
Previous public hearings
Corrected transcripts of these hearings are published below when finalised by the Committee.
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Monday 1 December 2025
Watch live: This hearing will be broadcasted live. The gallery will be closed for public viewing.
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Monday 17 November 2025
2:30 PM
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Sue Woodward, Commissioner Cate Bennett, Assistant Commissioner, General Counsel and Regulatory Services Suhanya Mendes, Director, Legal and Policy Directorate3:15 PM
University of Melbourne Student Union Joshua Stagg, President Sonika Agarwal, Education Public Affairs Officer Rhea Sankar, Education Academic Officer University of Melbourne Brendan Byrne, Chaplaincy Co-ordinator, Wellbeing Services -
Monday 10 November 2025
3:15 PM
RMIT University Dene Cicci, Executive Director, Students Group Australian Catholic University Professor Julie Cogin, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor4:15 PM
Federal Office of Cult Affairs (Austria) Ulrike Schiesser, Managing Director -
Wednesday 5 November 2025
3:15 PM
BATForce (Barwon Adolescent Task Force) Leigh Bartlett, Executive Officer
This session is to be rescheduled -
Tuesday 21 October 2025
9:30 AM
Janja Lalich, CEO, Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion10:45 AM
The Religious Trauma Collective - Australia/New Zealand Jane Kennedy, Registered Counsellor Samantha Sellers, Registered Therapist and Clinical Supervisor Elise Heerde, Certified Coach and Mental Health Practitioner2:00 PM
Freedom for Faith Mike Southon, Executive Director Kojo Akomeah, Board Member4:15 PM
Australian Christian Lobby Jasmine Yuen, Victorian Director Phi Duong, Senior Pastor, Western New Community Baptist Church -
Monday 20 October 2025
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Monday 13 October 2025
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Wednesday 23 July 2025