Mirriam Francis, now a director of the Olive Leaf Network, shared her harrowing experiences within the Church of Scientology during a parliamentary inquiry this week. At just eight years old, she recalls locking herself in the bathroom to escape "auditing," a process involving intense interviews with intrusive and sexual questions. "I lied and said I needed to pee. I ran the water in the sink while she knocked," she said, describing her desperate attempts to avoid the sessions.

During auditing, participants hold cans connected to a meter that measures small electrical changes, which Scientologists claim helps identify a person's thoughts and emotions. Francis, born into Scientology in Sydney in 1984, was moved to Los Angeles at age five. She described her living conditions as "institutionalized care," where children slept on bunks or the floor with minimal adult supervision. "I know what it is to be treated as an adult in a small body," she stated, reflecting on the adult expectations placed upon her as a child.

After returning to Australia in 2001 at 17, Francis volunteered with the church for nearly a decade before leaving in her mid-20s. She testified before the Victorian parliament's inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organized fringe groups. The inquiry aims to determine if stronger laws are necessary to protect individuals from groups that use manipulation or control. "The inquiry is not about judging anyone's beliefs — it's about protecting people from harm," the inquiry stated on its website.

Scientology is recognized as a religion and registered charity in Australia, allowing it to avoid income tax on profits. Francis criticized this status, saying, "When the federal government supports the financial benefits from these activities, this is not negligence. It is complicity. This is institutional child abuse backed by this country."

Maria Esguerra, another director of the Olive Leaf Network and a registered psychologist, also addressed the inquiry. Born into the Children of God church, now known as The Family International, she emphasized the need for greater child safety in religious groups. "The committee must maintain a clear distinction between adults and children through this inquiry, recognizing children's particular rights, protections, and vulnerabilities," she said. Esguerra recounted her lack of access to education, vaccinations, and medical treatment as a child, stating, "I broke my nose and never saw a doctor."

The inquiry has been ongoing since July, with numerous witnesses highlighting a lack of public understanding regarding these religious groups. Esguerra noted that within her former church, sexual acts were referred to as "sharing," which could confuse authorities if a child reported an assault. "My mother told me to pick my nose to turn off a perpetrator rather than intervening," she recalled.

In a statement to a television series earlier this year, The Family International claimed to have a zero-tolerance policy for the protection of minors and stated it is opposed to any form of abuse. The inquiry has heard from various individuals, including church representatives and former members, all calling for changes to prevent trauma in high-control groups. However, inquiry members are grappling with how to implement these changes without infringing on religious freedoms.

MP Jackson Taylor, a member of the inquiry, proposed a national inquiry and a permanent independent watchdog. He also expressed support for creating a new offense recognizing group-based coercive control. Journalist Anke Richter, who has investigated cults for a decade, urged the inquiry to criminalize shunning and group-based coercive control. She advocated for helplines, safe transitional housing for those leaving cults, and public awareness campaigns, citing successful support services in Europe.

The committee will continue its public hearings and is expected to release its findings in September next year.