Brethren Church elder denies directing election volunteering

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 07:32 · Archive

The highest elder of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church denies directing members' involvement in the 2025 Australian election campaign.

Bruce Hales, 73, the highest elder in the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, has denied any involvement in directing church members' participation in the 2025 election campaign. In a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, he stated he had 'no knowledge whatsoever in any planning, co-ordinating or directing' of volunteers and that his only knowledge of church participation came through media reporting.

Hales and his son Gareth, the highest members of the secretive sect, are due to appear before the inquiry on Friday. They were invited following media allegations that church members had paid 'known agitators and Nazi-associates to disrupt our democracy' during the campaign against Anthony Albanese.

When asked to explain the presence of church members volunteering in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and regional areas, Hales said he did not know because he 'had no part in it'. He stated that if community members chose to participate in election volunteering, that was their personal decision. Hales also denied knowledge of whether hotels were used to house members or whether political donations were made.

How it is being reported

• Brethren Church elder Bruce Hales denies directing election volunteeringThe highest authority in the secretive brethren church has spoken out days before he is due to appear before an election probe.The West Australian · 14 Oct, 07:01
• Brethren Church elder Bruce Hales denies directing election volunteeringThe highest authority in the secretive brethren church has spoken out days before he is due to appear before an election probe.Perth Now · 14 Oct, 06:59

In this story: Bruce Hales · Gareth Hales · Plymouth Brethren Christian Church · Anthony Albanese · Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters · Australia

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