Plymouth Brethren Leaders Deny Coordinating 2025 Election Campaign
Bruce Hales and Gareth Hales testified before a parliamentary committee, denying claims that the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church coordinated mass volunteering for the Liberal Party.
The global head of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, Bruce Hales, and his son Gareth Hales testified before a parliamentary committee in Canberra on Friday regarding the church's alleged influence in the 2025 federal election. The inquiry focused on claims that the church coordinated thousands of members to volunteer for the Liberal Party and funded far-right activists to target Labor MPs.
Bruce Hales denied any involvement in planning, directing, or funding these activities. He asserted that a sermon he delivered calling for a "happy" country was not an instruction for political action. Gareth Hales admitted to volunteering for the Liberal Party and encouraging other congregants to do so, but he maintained that he acted as a private businessman rather than a representative of the church.
The hearings were volatile, characterized by sharp divisions among lawmakers. Coalition members accused Labor and independent MPs of "religious persecution," while independent MPs countered that Coalition members were operating a "protection racket" for the church. Independent MP Andrew Gee challenged the testimony, stating he was not buying the church's narrative while acknowledging the evidence provided.
