Sydney private school put dog collar and lead on student, inquiry hears

A former member of Redeemer Baptist School and Church has testified before a parliamentary inquiry that her sister was placed in a dog collar and dragged by a lead, describing the institution as a place of severe abuse and control. The testimony, delivered on the second day of hearings, comes amid growing scrutiny over the North Parramatta private school and its affiliated religious organization, which has been labeled a “cult” by some witnesses. Helen Johnstone, speaking at the inquiry, recounted how her family joined the community in 1976 when she was a child, marking the beginning of a deeply troubling period for her and her siblings. Johnstone described a dramatic shift in her life shortly after joining the group. She and her sisters began experiencing feelings of discomfort and fear, noting a sharp deterioration in their quality of life. Her older sister was regarded as a “rebel” and endured regular abuse. According to Johnstone, she witnessed her sister being placed in a dog collar and pulled around by a lead. Additionally, she claimed her sister was held underwater and thrown into a “filthy duck pond.” The sister was also subjected to constant shunning, shaming, and humiliation. Johnstone also spoke about the abuse of her foster brother, an Indigenous boy she believes may have been part of the stolen generations. She described how her father physically assaulted him while he lay curled in a fetal position. In her account, the boy's education was defined by punishment rather than learning. He was beaten regularly for minor infractions such as not eating, providing incorrect homework answers, or soiling his clothes. Despite these abuses, the boy was eventually adopted into the family. Johnstone expressed a desire for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrival in the community. Corporal punishment was reportedly a routine practice within the church, according to multiple witnesses. This form of discipline continued as recently as 2005. The inquiry also received allegations of widespread financial misconduct involving the school and church. Graeme Glossop, an accountant who previously worked with the institution in 2004, accused the organization of running a “scheme of arrangement designed to avoid taxation.” He characterized the school and church as a “criminal gang who uses religion as camouflage” and claimed they were “stealing government money.” Glossop asserted that the school and church were not paying fringe benefits tax, a claim backed by University of Sydney accounting professor Clinton Free. Free noted that given the workers received an “extremely modest stipend” along with additional benefits such as housing and a vehicle, there appeared to be a tax obligation. Glossop likened the situation to a “disease” affecting the entire community, comparing it to a “cancer” that continues to impact individuals. Barney Jones, a former member, testified that the institution exploited legal loopholes to accumulate substantial wealth. He cited the ownership of at least 40 properties valued at a minimum of $140 million. Jones explained that by offering low stipends to volunteers, the institution avoided several taxes, including payroll tax, GST, capital gains tax, fringe benefits tax, stamp duty, and HECS repayments. He also mentioned the phenomenon of “double-dipping,” where members accessed Centrelink benefits to sustain their lifestyle despite having artificially low incomes. Jones presented a 102-page dossier detailing alleged violations of legislation and employment practices. He stated that he had raised concerns with the Board of Studies, now known as the NSW Education Standards Authority, in 2005, but his efforts were met with indifference. On Monday, NESA confirmed it was investigating the school under Section 83C of the Education Act, which mandates that non-government schools must operate on a not-for-profit basis to maintain eligibility.