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Witch Hunt in Victoria

This issue has been going for over 11 months and is the first of its kind in Australia that we know of. We are now seeking your support. If you don't know what is happening then read on, or you can check out the dedicated site http://caseypagans.lasielle.net

We have set up a PayPal account for donations if you so feel inclined. They will show on our statement as being specific to Casey as is a requirement of our fund raising licence. All you need to do is click on the button and follow the instructions. The charge will be in US dollars on your statement.

The other way to donate money for this issue is via direct deposit via the internet using your institutions internet banking service. If you can use "Casey" as the description when doing so it will make sure we can track the money and make sure it is used only for this cause. If you don't care what it is spent on then make it "donation".
Our account details are.

Westpac Banking Corporation
Account Name :
Pagan Awareness Network Inc
BSB:032206
Acc: 167670

It began

The first week of June was not a favourable week for Pagans and Witches in Victoria. It all started with a front page article of a local paper the Cranbourne Leader, Wednesday June 11 2003 named "Satanic Cult Fears"

The article is a ripper with all the intolerance and bigotry and misinformation any fundamentalist could want.

The result, and the story is below. Olivia Watts has launched legal actions against Cr Wilson. The Pagan Awareness Network Inc has on behalf of David Garland launched separate legal actions against Cr Wilson and Mayor Brian Oates claiming religious vilification.

Here is how it started.

Olivia Watts unsuccessfully ran for Casey council in March 2003. Another Councillor was elected and only stayed in office for only 34 days. While in office he stirred up a mess of trouble in the council. What is the connection I hear you say? Well this councillor appeared on Today Tonight (Channel 7) and Olivia was asked to comment. Well Olivia exercised her democratic right to have an opinion and made a comment.

On The 28th May 2003 the Cranbourne Leader ran an article on the repeal of Section 13 of the Vagrancy Act 1958 Olivia featured In this article.

On June 2nd, 2003, Councillor Rob Wilson issued a press release warning that individuals with links to the occult were involved in attacks on the City Council and its recent run of negative publicity. In his press release, he named Olivia Watts, and stated among other things that her religious beliefs were ‘a matter of concern for all Casey residents.’ The Mayor of the City Of Casey, Brian Oates, weighed into the debate, supporting Cr Wilson’s claims. A media circus ensued, see below.

Here are our responses and developments to date.

Our original letter to Steve Bracks the Victorian Premier, received a response from his office stating that the matter has been referred to the Attorney General and the Department of Justice for further investigation. Our second letter sent as a cc in response to Mayor Oats' letter to has also received a response thanking us for brining this to their attention and has also been referred to The Attorney General for investigation.

We have sent a complete file of all the correspondence and newspaper articles with the complaint to the Attorney General. September saw a response from the Attorney General of Victoria. In his letter he wanted to reiterate his comments on April 14, "We govern for all Victorians – and that includes witches, magicians and sorcerers" . He also advised that we lodge our complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001

Our complaint lodged with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has had a response, we were advised to take it to the Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria as it is out of their jurisdiction.

We then Lodged a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission in Victorian. Our complaint against Cr Wilson could not be resolved and will be referred to VCAT for hearing. Our Complaint with Mayor Oates is ongoing.

The complaint with Mayor Wilson was settled at VCAT on the 13th of March 2004 with the following results. Click Here

Magick.com.au have run an auction of a fantastic necklace made by Sigwyvern , to raise money for PAN Inc to use for the fight in Casey, this resulted in a $310.00 donation. PAN Inc would like to thank all who were involved in the bidding as it was a combined effort. Go here for a direct link to the auction thread to see how it all happened.

A huge thank you to Fritz and Wren and all those at The Witches Voice for their fantastic donation of $400.00 US to the Casey cause.

Out of this we have appointed Gavin Andrew as the Casey Contact for PAN Inc in Victoria. For more info click on the committee link to the left

Media articles that we can display

Below you will find the media articles that we can show as we have originals, it will cost us $30 a week to display articles that we have not scanned or had emailed to us by the source. We are sourcing as many of the original paper articles as we can. Again thanks to Gavin, Seri and Mike for getting many of these to us. If you get a article or a cutting that you want to send us about anything, please send it to.

PAN Inc. Media
PO Box 1062
North Sydney
NSW 2059

Satanic Cult Fears
Cranbourne Leader June 11th 2003

Legal action mooted, Letters to the editor (1) ( 2)
Cranbourne Leader June 18 2003

Cranbourne Independent
Letter from the editor. June 18th 2003

Pagans Angered by Wilson Attack
Cranbourne News 19/06/03

We're Charmed, I'm Sure (late edition)
Herald Sun 20/06/03

Letters to the editor
Cranbourne Leader 25/06/03

Boil and Bubble in Witchcraft trouble
Dandenong Journal 30/06/03

Letters to the Editor
Berwick/Pakenham Leader 01/07/03

Letters to the Editor
Dandenong Journal 07/07/03

Letters to the Editor
Cranbourne Leader 09/07/03

Group claims religious slur
Cranbourne Leader 09/07/03

Pastor pass on cult prayer
Cranbourne Leader 16/07/03

Letters to the editor
Cranbourne Leader 16/07/03

Ding Dong the Witch is alive...
Cranbourne Independent 18/6/2003

Pagans Challenge Wilson Claims
Berwick/Cranbourne News 07/08/03

Letters to the editor
Cranbourne Leader 23/07/03

Opinion- Yours and Ours
Berwick/Cranbourne News 07/08/03

Pagan radio debate enters third chapter
Cranbourne News 21/08/03

Cult claims ‘torment’
Cranbourne News 21/08/03
I have clarified with Matthew that the use of Cult is reflective of Cr Wilson's thoughts on Pagans, not the paper or himself

Witch claims she's a target of ridicule
Cranbourne Leader 27/08/03

Watts attracts support from around the globe
Cranbourne News 28/08/03

Opinion- Yours and Ours
Berwick/Cranbourne News 28/08/03

Opinion- Yours and Ours
Berwick/Cranbourne News 04/09/03

Cuppa to calm the pagan stir: Wilson
Berwick/Cranbourne News 18/09/03

Wilson stands firm on cult claims
Berwick/Cranbourne News 25/09/03

Bid to lift profile of Witches
Berwick Leader 8/10/03

Here is the flyer that is being distributed to letterboxes in the Casey electorate, as discussed in the two previous media articles. Casey Witch Trials PDF 519KB

'Gag' after witch claims
Dandenong Journal 20/10/03

Casting a crazy spell on freedom
Herald Sun Sunday 16/11/03

Witch files complaint against Christian pols
WorldNet Daily http://worldnetdaily.com/ 19/11/03

A Current Affair also ran a story on the 19/11/03

Oh, God witch way outa here?
Cranbourne Independent 19/11/03

Witch ends Council complaints
Berwick/Cranbourne News 20/11/03

..... but Pagans press on
Berwick/Cranbourne News 20/11/03

Witch Sues Christians Under Controversial Hate Laws
CNSNews.com Pacific Rim Bureau Chief 21/11/03

Letters to the editor
Cranbourne Independent 10/12/03

Letters to the editor
Berwick/Cranbourne News 11/12/03

Just say sorry.
Berwick/Cranbourne News 11/12/03

Mayor defies CEO 'gag' (1) (2)
Cranbourne Independent 17/12/03

Council faces legal costs.
South East News 18/12/03

Opinion- Yours and Ours
South East News 18/12/03

The councillor, the witch, and the tribunal
The Age 27/12/03

Just sit back and enjoy the stupidity
The Age 04/01/04

Latest Update January 2004 our complaint against Cr Wilson can not be resolved at the EOC Vic and at our discretion will be referred to the VCAT for a hearing.

Letters to the editor
Cranbourne Leader 14/1/04

Witches still spell trouble for Mayor Wilson
PAN Inc Media Release 18/03/04

Oates refuses apology to Witches, backs Wilson.
PAN Inc Media Release 19/03/04

Strange brew
The Age 23/03/04

Pagan leaflet investigated by Council Officers
PAN Inc Media Release 24/03/04

New mayor under Fire Pagans lodge Vilification complaint
Berwick Leader 23/03/04

Praise for peripatetic Oates and Mysterious pamphlet spirits
The Cranbourne Independent 24/03/04

Council petty, say pagans
Berwick/Pakenham Leader 30/03/04

Pagans plan to take on Oates + Woman owns up
Cranbourne Leader 14/04/04

Pagan ultimatum: apologise of face the tribunal
The News senews.com.au 15/0404

Cr Brian Oates
The Cranbourne Independent 28/04/04

Update
May 3rd, Directions hearing at VCAT against Wilson. Date for mediation set as 10 am 13th of May 2004. I don't expect anything much to happen between now and then, but keep an eye on these pages.

Witch to sue mayor
Herald Sun 11/05/04

Witch Way will he go?
The Cranbourne Independent 12/05/04

'Witch' gets Legal Aid
The Cranbourne Independent 12/05/04

Update
May 13th 2004 Mayor Wilson settled during mediation with the Pagan Awareness Network Inc and the complaint has now ended. Here is the what came of the dispute. This has no affect on the complaint by Olivia Watts and we will continue to support her with her hearing in August this year

Mayor does deal with Pagans – but must still face Witch Olivia
PAN Inc Media Release 14/05/04

Will Mayor Wilson now settle with Witch Olivia?
PAN Inc Media Release 14/05/04

Mayor spared a hex debt
Herald Sun 15/05/04

Mayor and pagans resolve dispute
Dandenong Journal 17/05/04

Best of your feedback
Have a look there are a few in there
Herald Sun 19/05/04

Pagans decide to let Mayor off hook
Cranbourne leader 19/05/04 (627k)

Mayor, pagans at Peace
Cranbourne Independent 19/05/04 Page 1

The outer limits
Cranbourne Independent 19/05/04

Legal costs set to rise in Witch War.
PAN Inc Media Release 20/05/04

Wilson and Pagans call truce
South East News 20/05/04

My Oates it's over, states Councillor
Dandenong Journal 07/06/04

Pagans still taking Councillors to VCAT
South East News 10/06/04