Bruce Hales, the global head of the Exclusive Brethren, also known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC), formally denied any knowledge of or involvement in church members volunteering for the Liberal Party during the 2025 Australian federal election at a parliamentary hearing on October 16, 2026. Hales explicitly stated he did not plan, coordinate, direct, or fund such activities. The hearing is part of an inquiry investigating alleged interference in the 2025 federal election.

This parliamentary inquiry examines the role of religious organizations in political campaigns, raising questions about transparency, electoral influence, and the conduct of third-party campaigners in Australian democracy.

What the records show

Hales' son, Gareth Hales, admitted campaigning for the Liberal Party and encouraging congregants to do the same. However, Gareth Hales maintained that his actions were in a personal capacity. Reports from May 2025 indicated the federal Liberal Party provided sensitive voter information to the Exclusive Brethren, which reportedly led to nearly a million phone calls for the Coalition. The Liberal Party's post-election review reportedly labeled the PBCC a "support group," a characterization Gareth Hales expressed surprise about. The church also denied allegations during the parliamentary inquiry that it secretly paid "far-right figures" for campaign stunts against the Prime Minister and other Labor MPs.

The parliamentary hearing

Public statements from the church leader

What we could not confirm