Calls for probe into Christian sect's election role
Investigators say elders paid far-right activists and mobilized members in a multimillion-dollar effort that targeted Labor, Greens and independent candidates.
- On Friday, a spokesperson for the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church testified before a parliamentary inquiry examining allegations the sect coordinated a secret, multimillion-dollar influence campaign to disrupt the 2025 federal election.
- Allegations suggest senior Brethren members provided a "duffel bag of cash" to far-right activists coordinating an "influence campaign" to track and heckle government candidates, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, during the 2025 election.
- Church director Lloyd Grimshaw denied institutional coordination, describing allegations as a "complete lie" and insisting members volunteered for "normal reasons" despite reports of unusually high volunteer numbers at polling booths.
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke warned it is essential to "draw a line" on political intimidation, citing increasing threats against parliamentary staff and concerns about paid agitators disrupting democracy.
- The Australian Electoral Commission is investigating wider concerns about church involvement, while inquiries continue into $655,000 in political donations received by Advance from Brethren businessmen.
9 Articles
9 Articles
Brethren Church denies paying influencers to harass election candidates
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church says it did not pay or coordinate with far-right influencers to harass and intimidate candidates during last year's federal election, following allegations published in Nine newspapers.
Sydney Morning Herald
Exclusive Brethren secretly paid far-right activists to perform stunts disrupting the federal election
A digital trail of evidence and political and church insiders have revealed how the wealthy Christian sect mobilised influencers around the country to track and heckle candidates.
Australian church denies paying far-right activists to disrupt election
Photo: Prosperosity / wikimedia (BY-SA 4.0) The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church denied at a parliamentary inquiry Friday that it secretly paid far-right influencers to stage stunts targeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other politicians during Australia’s 2025 federal election. The church, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, also denied claims it coordinated hundreds of volunteers to support Liberal Party candidates at polling b…
Calls for probe into Christian sect’s election role
Members of a Christian sect should be investigated over claims it attempted to disrupt the 2025 federal election, ministers say. A parliamentary inquiry will probe the Exclusive Brethren on Friday over claims it paid far-right activists to disrupt appearances of the Albanese government on the campaign trail. The inquiry is also examining wider efforts by the Exclusive Brethren during the election as part of campaigning for the coalition. Members…
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