Better Believe It: Steve Cannane on Scientology in Australia

Secretive, starstudded and litigious the Church of Scientology holds a risky, irresistible allure for a certain kind of investigative journalist. Theres been some excellent reporting on Scientology in recent years, including documentaries from Alex Gibney (Going Clear) and Louis Theroux (My Scientology Story). Now, Walkley Awardwinning journalist Steve Cannane digs deeper into the local activities of the religion with his new book, Fair Game. Scientology and Australia have had a strange, troublesome history. In 1963, the worlds first official government inquiry into Scientology was held here, and the state of Victoria subsequently (and briefly) became the first place in the world where the religion was banned. At the Wheeler Centre, Cannanes focus is the churchs more recent history in Australia. He discusses the writing and research of Fair Game and his fascinating findings on the churchs recruitment of James Packer, its dispute with Julian Assange and its role in exposing abuses