Exclusive Brethren leader denies knowing members volunteered for Liberals in 2025

Bruce Hales, the most senior member of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, told a parliamentary committee he had no knowledge of or involvement in church members volunteering for the Liberal party during the 2025 election.

Hales said he did not plan, coordinate, direct or fund any such activity. The church also rejected claims that it coordinated volunteers or a Coalition campaign.

The evidence was given at a Friday hearing marked by clashes between committee members. Coalition representatives accused Labor and crossbench MPs of “religious persecution”, while independent MP Andrew Gee said they were running an “old Liberal party protection racket”; he was required to withdraw the remark.

Evidence about political contacts

Hales’s son, Gareth, said he had met Morgan C Jonas and Chris de Bruyne separately in a business capacity. He denied knowing their political affiliations and rejected reports that his company, Sante Global, paid them to disrupt other campaigns.

Gee described Jonas and de Bruyne as far-right activists. Nine newspapers reported that the pair had been involved in a campaign targeting Labor and other left-leaning politicians during the election.

Sermon before the election

On 20 April 2025, less than two weeks before the federal election, Bruce Hales preached that members should be “fervent in prayer for good government”. He also said the country needed to be happy and smiling again; those phrases later appeared on posters endorsing the Liberal party.

Hales denied that the sermon was a call to political action and said he did not know his words had been used on billboards and in advertising. Gareth Hales could not confirm or deny turning the sermon into a text message urging members to ensure booths were staffed and volunteers were energised.

He denied instructing members to join the campaign, but said he had encouraged people already volunteering to continue. He said they were acting as members of business groups and private citizens, rather than on behalf of the church.