Here is our weekly summary of the latest news and developments regarding cults, high-control groups, and coercive control for the week of September 7, 2026.
This week, we are seeing organized responses to the proposed legislative changes in Australia, alongside preparations for a major upcoming international conference on cult awareness.
Victoria Inquiry: The Religious Freedom Defense
Following the release of the Victorian Parliament's final report on high-control groups, conservative advocacy organizations are formally mobilizing their response. On August 31, the Christian legal think tank Freedom for Faith published a detailed update on their strategy.
• A Partial Victory: The organization is celebrating the committee’s decision to explicitly reject using the word "cult" in any proposed legislation, viewing this as a significant win that protects mainstream religious beliefs from being criminalized based on group identity.
• The Next Battleground: However, they are raising alarms about the proposed "group-based coercion" offense. Advocates argue that without strict legal definitions, terms in the proposal like "spiritual or existential threats" could be weaponized against ordinary theological teachings regarding judgment, salvation, or repentance. They are also heavily lobbying the Federal Government to protect the "Basic Religious Charity" (BRC) framework, which the inquiry recommended dismantling.
Academic & Advocacy Events: Decult 2026
Preparations are officially underway for the second Decult Conference, which is scheduled for October 24–25, 2026, in Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Theme and Scope: Billed as Australasia’s primary cult awareness conference, this year's theme is Voices of Courage: Pathways to Healing and Justice. It will operate as a hybrid in-person and online event.
• Key Focus: A major goal of the conference is to bridge the gap between academic research, survivor advocacy, and public policy. Speakers include American therapist and cult specialist Rachel Bernstein, alongside mental health professionals, journalists, and researchers specializing in coercive control. A core policy objective for attendees is lobbying for government-supported cult awareness agencies in New Zealand, similar to those in other Western nations.
International Legal Updates: Apollo Quiboloy
Following last week's revelation that the Philippine Department of Justice has the option to utilize a "temporary surrender" mechanism to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy to the US, there are no major new developments to report this week. The international legal community is currently waiting for the Philippine regional trial courts to process the formal US request.