Sect asked for power to prevent child visits

The Greens senator Bob Brown will move for a Senate inquiry into the activities of the Exclusive Brethren religious sect next year after revelations of its long attempts to influence the Government on family law.

The Herald can also reveal that the Brethren met the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, early last year and asked him to amend the Family Law Act to "ensure that a child is not subject to a radical lifestyle change without compelling reason".

If the request was granted no child brought up in a Brethren family would be able to have access visits with a parent who had left the strictly separatist sect.