LOCAL Falun Gong group members say they have been discriminated against by Box Hill Centro, which banned them from the shopping centre.

Organisers of a Falun Gong art exhibition, being staged at Box Hill Community Arts Centre, tried to lease a stall at Box Hill Centro to promote it but centre management rejected their request, stating it was against company policy.

The exhibition displays paintings that show the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Centro spokesman Andrew Scannell said the centre enforced policies and procedures that ensured the company would not be affiliated with any political party or religious group.

"(This) includes political groups not being permitted to trade at any Centro shopping centres and religious groups not being permitted to promote any type of religion or religious services," he said.

Original text from: http://whitehorse-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/falun-gong-a-no-no-at-the-centro/

(Whereilive.com.au, December 16, 2009)