In short:
The spiritual leader of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has denied allegations he coordinated church members to volunteer in the 2025 federal election campaign.
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he → deny → campaign
His son Gareth Hales says he encouraged members of the church, but did not instruct them to participate.
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he → say → them
The spiritual leader of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC) has denied coordinating a pro-Liberal campaign in the 2025 federal election, as his son acknowledged meeting far-right figures accused of targeting MPs.
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son → deny → MPs
Several politicians have alleged Brethren members intimidated rival candidates and campaigners, while Nine newspapers reported church members paid far-right influencers, including neo-Nazi associates, to follow and heckle the prime minister.
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members → allege → minister
Giving evidence before the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, senior elder Bruce Hales denied any knowledge of a coordinated campaign by the church.
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Hales → give → church
"I did not coordinate such activities.
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I → coordinate → activities
I did not direct such activities.
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I → direct → activities
I did not fund such activities," he said.
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he → fund → activities
"If anti-social acts were committed by any individual of any faith … I cannot answer for them".
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I → commit → them
Gareth Hales, Mr Hales's son, said he met far-right figures Chris De Bruyne and Morgan C Jonas, who have been accused of intimidation tactics during the campaign.
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who → say → campaign
But he described the encounters as "brief" business meetings, and said he was unaware of their political affiliations at the time.
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he → describe → time
He also denied allegations that a company he formerly associated with, Sante Global, paid neo-Nazi associates to disrupt Anthony Albanese's campaign.
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he → deny → campaign
Mr Hales Jnr said his own involvement in the election was limited to volunteering at four polling booths and maintained he had only a "very, very light-touch" role.
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he → say → role
He admitted to encouraging some church members, but did not specify how many people he counselled, or the nature of his encouragement.
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he → admit → encouragement
"I didn't direct or coordinate, but yes, if I was on a call, a leader is expected to encourage, inspire, if at all possible," he said.
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he → direct → call
It was also revealed members of the PBCC, which has a global congregation of 56,000, had met with US President Donald Trump in New York, although Mr Hale was not present.
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Hale → reveal → York
The line of questioning of both senior PBCC men was likened to a "witch hunt" by Coalition members, with Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie going as far as accusing the committee of religious discrimination.
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McKenzie → liken → discrimination
Where did 'Make Australia Smile Again' come from?
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Australia → make → Where
The committee spent considerable time litigating the origin of signs reported in several electorates that read "Make Australia Smile Again".
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Australia → spend → electorates
Mr Hales was questioned about the similarity to a sermon he gave the month before the election, in which he urged parishioners to pray for "good government" because Australia "needed to be happy again, smiling again".
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Australia → question → government
He agreed that it was rare for his message, sent online to church members around the world, to be misinterpreted.
"Very, very rarely do I have to go back and explain what I meant," he said.
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he → agree → what
Asked whether his four sons, one of whom was later photographed campaigning, interpreted that as an endorsement for the Liberal Party, Mr Hales said he did not know.
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he → ask → Party
"I think if they had asked me about them and asked permission [to campaign], I would have denied it," he said.
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he → think → it
"The first indication I had that my eldest son was out on the polling booths was a photograph in the paper, and I was a bit surprised."
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I → have → paper
Mr Hales Jnr gave evidence he never saw the "Make Australia Smile Again" signs and was surprised when the Liberal Party's internal review described Brethren members involved in the campaign as a support group.
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review → give → group
"I was not aware that was how the Liberals regarded us," he said.
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he → regard → us
When pressed on who he meant by "us", Mr Hales said he was referring simply to members of the Australian public.
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he → press → public
Fiery Coalition members label questioning a 'witch hunt'
Chair Jerome Laxale said there had been "thousands and thousands" of church members who "flooded" polling booths during the campaign.
Mr Hales Jnr pushed back, asking how Mr Laxale knew those people at the polling booths were Brethren members.
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people → label → booths
"It was well documented," Mr Laxale said.
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Laxale → document → ?
The inquiry was littered with interjections from Coalition members, who described the line of questioning as a "witch hunt".
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who → litter → hunt
Liberal senator Richard Colbeck repeatedly interrupted questioning and labelled the hearing "ridiculous".
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Colbeck → interrupt → hearing
"This is not the Spanish Inquisition," Senator Colbeck said.
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Colbeck → say → ?
Bruce Hales's role in the church
Mr Hales told the committee he succeeded his father, John Hales, as the senior elder and was not elected but assumed the position "spontaneously".
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he → tell → position
He said members followed his teachings, which they believed came from God.
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they → say → God
"I would think that they would say that what I get, I get from the Lord," he said.
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he → think → Lord
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously described the Brethren as a cult, which Mr Hales rejected.
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Hales → describe → which
We are Christians,"Mr Hales said.
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Hales → say → ?
Mr Hales said although he was the spiritual Brethren leader, he did not have authority over individual members, who were "entitled to make their own decisions".
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who → say → decisions
Mr Hales Jnr said he did take part in the campaign as a volunteer for the Liberal Party in his capacity as a "private citizen".
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he → say → citizen
He said campaigning alongside someone — in this case, fellow Brethren members — did not mean "adopting every opinion they have ever expressed".
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they → say → opinion
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
