Editing Anti-cult movement (section)

=== Australia ===
Australia's anti-cult movement began in the 1970s with the introduction of NRMs like [[Scientology]] and the [[Unification Church]]. Deprogrammings occurred throughout the 1970s and 1980s that resulted in numerous lawsuits resulting in a national transition away from deprogramming and toward [[exit counseling]].<ref>Dominiek Coates, "The Significance and Purpose of the 'Anti-Cult Movement' in Facilitating Disaffiliation From a New Religious Movement: Resources for Self-construction or a Justificatory Account," ''International Journal for the Study of New Religions'' 3, no. 2 (2012): 213–244. p. 219.</ref> In 2010, [[Independent politician|independent]] Senator [[Nick Xenophon]] attempted to enact legislation against NRMs – though primarily against the [[Church of Scientology]] and their [[Tax exemption|tax-exempt]] status – similar to those in France. However, his efforts were unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Xenophon won't give up on Scientologists |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/xenophon-wont-give-up-on-scientologists/56q23tp9c |access-date=2022-07-26 |work=SBS News |language=en}}</ref>

Australia's main anti-cult organization is Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS), run by [[Exit-counselor|exit counselor]] Tore Klevjer.<ref>Sherryn Groch, "Why do smart people join cults? And how do they get out of them?," ''The Age'' (Melbourne), 17 July 2022.</ref> It was founded by Ros Hodgkins, David Richardson, and nineteen others in 1996.<ref>Dayle Latham, "Cult followers need help to escape: supporter," ''[[Illawarra Mercury]]'' ([[Wollongong|Wollongong, New South Wales]]), 17 November 2014.</ref><ref>Julie Huffer, "More tell of Sahaja yoga experiences," ''Hornsby Advocate'', 9 April 1997.</ref><ref name=":02">Interview with Ann Wason Moore, "Fear creates a recipe for exploitation," ''[[Gold Coast Bulletin|The Gold Coast Bulletin]]'' ([[Southport, Queensland]]), 6 June 2020.</ref> CIFS combats NRMs as well as [[lifestyle coach]]es and [[Multi-level marketing|multi-level marketing schemes]];<ref name=":02" /> ''[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]'' wrote in 2017 that it also represents ex-NRM members.<ref>Kay Dibben, "Senator takes aim at cult coercion," ''[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]'' ([[Adelaide]]), 5 February 2017.</ref> Other groups like Cult Counselling Australia (formed in 1991<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://cultconsulting.org/about-us |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=cultconsulting.org |language=en}}</ref>) exist in Australia to provide exit counseling and educational services.