The Age (Australia): Group seeks apology for festival ban

February 19 2003

The "long arm of Beijing" prevented spiritual group Falun Dafa from joining last year's Melbourne Chinese New Year festival, a Melbourne tribunal was told yesterday.

Falun Dafa members told the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal they were discriminated against by the festival organisers because of their political and religious views.

China banned Falun Dafa in 1999.

Mark Irving, for Falun Dafa, told the tribunal that the group sought to hold a stall at the 2002 Melbourne festival but was refused.

They complained to the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission. Just before a hearing was held festival organisers Concentive Australia accepted their application. But, on festival eve, the group was told its application had been denied by the festival host, the Federation of Chinese Associations Victoria.

Mr Irving said the group was seeking an apology by the FCA. The hearing continues.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/18/1045330599881.html