悉尼私立学校Redeemer Baptist School及其附属教堂在议会调查中面临严重指控。证人在调查中作证称，学生曾遭受虐待行为，包括被戴上狗项圈并用牛皮绳牵拉[1]。证人Helen Johnstone陈述道："我目睹她经历了一些可怕的待遇，包括被戴上狗项圈并被狗牵绳牵拉"[1]。虐待事件并非孤立，证人还指控学生遭受水下溺水和被扔进脏池塘等行为[1]。根据作证，这类体罚在教堂内普遍存在，至少持续到2005年[1]。
除虐待指控外，该校还面临严重的财务违规查证。会计师Graeme Glossop在调查中指控学校和教堂是"利用宗教作掩护的犯罪团伙"，并称其"盗窃政府资金"[1]。证人Barney Jones称该机构拥有至少40处房产，总价值至少1.4亿澳元[1]。调查发现，学校和教堂通过志愿者低薪、重复获取Centrelink福利等方式规避工资税、GST、资本利得税、边际福利税、印花税和HECS还款[1]。Jones曾在2005年向教育委员会发出警告，但"警告无人理睬"[1]。目前，新南威尔士州教育标准局（NESA）正根据《教育法》第83C条对该学校进行调查[1]。学校现有535名学生[1]。
A parliamentary inquiry into Redeemer Baptist School and its affiliated church in Sydney has heard allegations of severe student abuse and financial irregularities spanning decades. Witness Helen Johnstone testified that she observed a student subjected to mistreatment including being placed in a dog collar and led with a dog leash [1]. Additional accounts presented to the inquiry describe incidents of near-drowning and students being thrown into contaminated ponds [1].
The inquiry also heard accusations of systematic financial misconduct. Accountant Graeme Glossop characterized the school and church as "a criminal organization using religion as a front" and alleged they had engaged in "theft of government funds" [1]. Witness Barney Jones stated the institutions owned at least 40 properties with a combined value of at least A$140 million [1]. Jones testified that the organizations evaded taxes through mechanisms including low-wage volunteer arrangements and repeated claims for Centrelink welfare benefits, enabling them to avoid payroll tax, GST, capital gains tax, fringe benefits tax, stamp duty, and HECS loan repayments [1].
Physical punishment was reportedly widespread within the church environment, persisting at least until 2005 [1]. Jones indicated he had alerted the education authority to concerns in 2005, but stated his warning "went unheeded" [1]. The school currently enrolls 535 students [1] and is under investigation by NESA under section 83C of the Education Act [1].