By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
PASTOR Danny Nalliah’s Federal Election campaign interfered with his ability to fight a proposal for a mosque neighbouring his Catch the Fire Ministries Church in Doveton.
The controversial ’Pastor Danny’, Rise Up Australia Party national president, sought a postponement of a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) hearing into the mosque to allow him to campaign.
The aspiring Victorian senator lodged an official request with VCAT to have the 16 September hearing adjourned, after Casey Council would not agree to the deferral.
Lawyers for CTFM and Mr Nalliah, who has previously voiced strong opposition to the mosque, contacted the City of Casey requesting an adjournment of the hearing due to Mr Nalliah’s campaign commitments.
The City of Casey originally granted a permit for a mosque on Green Street, Doveton to be built next door to the outspoken Christian church’s new base on 12 March.
Mr Nalliah said he had now lodged an official request with VCAT for a one-month adjournment on behalf of CTFM because he had been unable to prepare for the hearing.
“I am busy running my campaign with 93 candidates and travelling across the country setting up the teams I have there and I have had no time to look into this,” he said.
“It would be a terrible injustice if VCAT don’t allow an adjournment for a very valid reason.”
City of Casey Manager Planning Duncan Turner said VCAT would determine whether a request for adjournment would be granted.
“The appeal was lodged in March 2013, and VCAT gave notice of the actual hearing date on 2 August 2013. Accordingly, CTFM has been aware of the hearing date for over a month and has had six months to prepare for the hearing,” he said.
“A September election was first announced on 30 January this year.”
