MPs clash over grilling of Exclusive Brethren leader on alleged election campaigning

Exclusive Brethren leader Bruce Hales denies any role in coordinating church members’ campaigning for the Liberals during the 2025 federal election, telling a parliamentary inquiry he had ‘no knowledge’ of the events and ‘no part in planning them’. Subscribe to Guardian Australia on YouTube and hit the bell to see new videos ► https://www.youtube.com/@GuardianAustralia?sub_confirmation=1 Hales says his sons may have deliberately kept him in the dark, saying it was ‘quite likely’ they had not sought his permission, as MPs grilled him over members’ presence at polling booths and ‘Make Australia smile again’ campaign signage Brethren church denies paying far-right activists to stage election stunts targeting Albanese and others ► https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/21/brethren-church-denies-paying-far-right-activists-to-stage-election-stunts-targeting-albanese-and-others-ntwnfb?CMP=gdnaus_yt Get the latest news at theguardian.com ► https://www.theguardian.com/au?CMP=gdnaus_yt Support Guardian Australia ► https://support.theguardian.com/contribute?CMP=gdnaus_yt Sign up to Guardian Australia's free daily newsletters, the Morning Mail and Afternoon Update ► https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=gdnaus_yt Find or follow Guardian Australia: Website ► https://theguardian.com/au?CMP=gdnaus_yt Google News ► https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMNTrogswl_a6Aw Instagram ► https://instagram.com/guardianaustralia TikTok ► https://tiktok.com/@guardianaustralia LinkedIn ► https://linkedin.com/company/guardianaustralia Threads ► https://www.threads.net/@guardianaustralia WhatsApp Channels ► https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBW8Bn6hENlReOC9j0l Facebook ► https://facebook.com/theguardianaustralia Newsletters ► https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=gdnaus_yt Subscribe to the Guardian's other YouTube channels: The Guardian ► https://www.youtube.com/@theGuardian Guardian News ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiannews Guardian Football ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianfootball Guardian Sport ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiansport Guardian Live ► https://www.youtube.com/@GuardianLive #exclusivebrethren #australia #election #politics #brucehales