Brethren Church hauled back before inquiry over election interference claim

The spiritual leader of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC) will be hauled before a parliamentary inquiry today over claims that members of the church paid known neo-Nazi associates to intimidate candidates during the 2025 federal election campaign.

Several politicians have claimed Brethren members who were volunteering for the Liberal Party at pre-poll centres in key marginal seats intimidated rival volunteers and candidates.

An investigation from Nine newspapers also alleged members of the PBCC paid far-right influencers, including neo-Nazi associates, to track and heckle the prime minister.

The church denied "any interaction" with "any political party or third-party group" during the campaign, as well as the existence of any formal arrangement with the Coalition.

It is the second time church representatives have appeared before the committee. Director Lloyd Grimshaw gave evidence in August.

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Labor MP Jerome Laxale, said it recalled senior church figures to address unanswered questions.

"Recent media reports about PBCC members paying known agitators and Nazi-associates to disrupt our democracy are deeply disturbing," the committee said in a statement.

"For the committee to accurately report on the 2025 election, they need to show up and fess up."

Bruce Hales, the church's self-described "most senior elder", was warned he would be subpoenaed if he refused to appear.

The church said the move showed the government wanted to "force" Mr Hales to answer for the actions of "individual church members", despite evidence it said demonstrated it "had no involvement in the election".

It accused the committee of "persecuting our Church and its members" and called the inquiry "a deeply disturbing moment for religious freedoms in Australia".

"I was not involved, nor did I have any participation directly or indirectly in the 2025 election," Mr Hales said in a statement.

"I did not participate in the campaign, nor did I ask anyone to do so."

Committee member James McGrath said any recommendations from the inquiry would be "tainted" by "hyper-partisanship and unprofessional conduct".

"This inquiry has descended into a hyper-partisan witch-hunt, and I have completely lost confidence in the chair and the committee's processes," the Liberal senator said.

"In my 12 years in parliament, I have never witnessed such appalling conduct from a parliamentary committee."

Former Liberal senator approached by church members

In an opinion piece published in the Nine newspapers, former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds revealed she unknowingly attended a meeting during the campaign with two Brethren members presented as "small businesspeople", who she recognised despite being told they were not church members.

She said they offered campaign assistance while seeking "confidential campaign financial information".

Ms Reynolds also said she saw people she recognised as Brethren members at campaign booths who were being coordinated and briefed by people not part of local campaign teams.

While some candidates welcomed the additional support, she said long-serving volunteers felt "uncomfortable" and, at times, "intimidated" by campaign activity by Brethren members.

"I am not alleging misconduct, but only the Liberal Party can explain what happened inside the party," she said.

Coalition members previously dismissed the inquiry as a "hyper-partisan witch-hunt", arguing it targeted the church's religion rather than the conduct of the election.

Who coordinated Brethren members during campaign?

The church has denied organising the involvement of Brethren members in the campaign, but acknowledged they clearly were coordinated.

In a letter sent to members of the committee ahead of his appearance, Mr Hales asked members to consider why a faith leader should be asked to account for the political choices of "private individuals" who "share his faith".

"The same would not be expected of leaders of other faiths, and I would ask only to be treated in the same way," he wrote.

Mr Hales said he was responsible for matters of doctrine, but that members' "private lives and civic choices are theirs".

During his appearance before the committee in August, Mr Grimshaw denied any role in coordinating election activity and painted a picture of the church as a collection of individuals with a "very strong" volunteering ethic.

He said those individuals had "normal reasons" for wanting to support a candidate they believed in.

"No church in this country would be held responsible for what parishioners did in their private time," Mr Grimshaw said.