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A Victorian parliamentary committee investigating the harmful impact of cults and fringe groups has apologised after an administrative error exposed the email addresses of anonymous abuse survivors to recipients including current members of the very groups they made submissions about. The breach, which occurred during the distribution of the committee's final report, has left survivors feeling exposed and fearful for their safety.

The Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee released its final report after a year-long inquiry into cults and organised fringe groups. Shortly after midday on the day the report was tabled, the committee emailed hundreds of recipients to inform them of its publication, but mistakenly placed all addresses in the visible CC field rather than the blind copy field, according to ABC Australia and The Guardian — World.

Coverage comparison

ABC Australia reported that the inquiry received almost 300 submissions, of which 172 were marked "name withheld" or "confidential." The Guardian — World reported that the email went to 330 visible addresses, which included both witnesses who had told stories of leaving high-control groups and individuals who made submissions from those groups. Both outlets described the leak as an administrative technical error.

The committee's second email, sent 42 minutes after the first, apologised and asked recipients to delete the email and refrain from forwarding it. "We understand the importance of protecting personal information and regret this mistake," the committee said, as quoted by The Guardian — World. The committee added that it was reviewing its processes to prevent a similar incident.

Labor MP Ella George apologised for the administrative error and indicated it would be part of a full review into the secretariat's processes, as reported by both ABC Australia and The Guardian — World.

Key Claims

  • The committee accidentally sent email addresses of anonymous survivors to current members of groups and journalists due to an administrative technical error.
  • The inquiry received almost 300 submissions, including 172 'name withheld' or 'confidential' submissions.
  • The final report includes 39 recommendations, including new legislation to criminalise group-based coercion and support for Victoria police.
  • The committee recommended establishing a formal lived experience advisory body.
  • Labor MP Ella George apologised for the error and said it would be part of a full review into the secretariat's processes.
Survivors and advocates expressed distress at the breach. Karen Alsop, who publicly gave evidence about the Casey City church, said the email risked further traumatising people living with complex conditions including PTSD, as reported by ABC Australia. Alex Belle, part of Survivors of Coercive Cults and High Control Groups, told ABC Australia that the fact that email addresses may now be known by abusers was "beyond distressing." Belle, who made an anonymous submission and left the Hebrew Roots movement two-and-a-half years ago, said they had serious concerns for the safety of respondents and others mentioned in the reports.

Patrick McIvor told The Guardian — World that the privacy breach exemplified the need for a dedicated commissioner.

Despite the breach, survivors acknowledged the significance of the report. Belle described the recommendations as "actionable, meaningful" and said they recognised the nuance of cult harm. They noted that their advocacy group had received many panicked calls from survivors and that they could not reassure them that their fears were unfounded.

The committee's report recommends outlawing coercive control in group settings and includes support measures for Victoria police, along with the establishment of a lived experience advisory body, according to ABC Australia and The Guardian — World.