Leaked Materials Reveal Church's Covert Election Campaign

Documents and videos show Plymouth Brethren Christian Church coordinated volunteers to hide their affiliation during the 2024 Australian federal election.

"LOYALTY is paramount" and "CONFIDENTIALITY is mandatory," read the directives given to church volunteers.

Leaked videos and documents have revealed that high-ranking members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church coached volunteers to be evasive and aggressive during the 2024 Australian federal election. The materials indicate a centralized campaign coordinated by church leadership, including Bruce Hales, the church's world leader.

Coordinated Deception

Church members were instructed to avoid disclosing their religious affiliation and to present themselves instead as concerned citizens volunteering for local candidates. The evidence has been submitted to the federal parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, which is investigating the church's activities.

In a video obtained by investigators, Gavin Grace, a senior member coordinating efforts in the Sydney seat of Bennelong, provided detailed instructions on how to respond to questions about the church.

Legal Vulnerabilities

The church, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, operates as a charity and is prohibited from engaging in partisan political activity. It now risks losing its tax-exempt status if found to have coordinated the pro-Coalition effort.

Despite the evidence, the church has publicly denied any role in organizing members' political involvement. A church submission to the parliamentary inquiry stated that while many parishioners were active, "the church did not participate in or coordinate their involvement."

"LOYALTY is paramount" and "CONFIDENTIALITY is mandatory" were among the directives in the volunteer document.

The leaked materials stand in stark contrast to the church's official position, raising serious questions about compliance with electoral laws and charitable regulations.