Exclusive Brethren head denies knowing church members were volunteering for Liberal party during 2025 election

The most senior member of the Exclusive Brethren, Bruce Hales, has denied any knowledge of or involvement in thousands of members from his church volunteering for the Liberal party during the 2025 election. The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has rejected claims it coordinated volunteers and a campaign for the Coalition, and that it secretly paid far-right figures to stage stunts against the prime minister and other Labor MPs.

The fiery parliamentary committee hearing on Friday was marred by clashes, with members of the committee accusing one another of "religious persecution" and "running a protection racket" for the church. Bruce Hales stated, "I want to be clear and unequivocal. I had no involvement whatsoever in relation to any members who volunteered or took part in any aspect of the 2025 federal election. I did not plan such activities. I did not coordinate such activities. I did not direct such activities. I did not fund such activities."

Hales also denied that his church was a cult, a term used by the prime minister, while his son, Gareth Hales, who also appeared before the committee, remarked that it was "a bit rough" being labelled as such.