“Holy” Influence: How the Exclusive Brethren’s Secret Election Plot Exposes a Bigger Problem

The recent revelations about the Exclusive Brethren’s secret election influence operation are astonishing. The church’s multimillion-dollar effort to help elect Peter Dutton as prime minister involved orchestrating scripted stunts, including harassing MPs and their ministers with far-right agitators.

This is not an isolated incident; the Exclusive Brethren has long walked a fine line between its spiritual mission and secular influence. However, the scale and audacity of this operation are unprecedented. The church’s leadership has used its wealth and resources to further its interests, often blurring the lines between church and state.

Leaked messages reveal a disturbing level of coordination between the Brethren’s leadership and their far-right allies. Gareth Hales, the son of the church’s “Man of God,” was involved in at least one key coordinating chat as of last March. He was also photographed campaigning in a blue Liberal t-shirt during the election. When asked about his involvement, Hales denied any knowledge of money changing hands, leaving more questions unanswered.

The Exclusive Brethren’s operation was just one arm of their multimillion-dollar, undisclosed effort to help elect Dutton as prime minister. Other churches and religious organizations have been accused of meddling in elections, using their resources to lobby for specific policies or candidates. This raises important questions about the role of religion in politics: should churches be allowed to use their wealth and influence to shape public policy?

The answer lies somewhere in between – but it’s clear that some elements within the church are pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable. The impact of these revelations will be far-reaching, not just for the Exclusive Brethren but for democracy itself.

As teal independent Monique Ryan pointed out, “orchestrated, threatening interruptions by malevolent influencers and third parties will have a chilling effect on people running in politics.” This is exactly what we should be worried about – the erosion of trust in our democratic institutions. The parliamentary inquiry into this scandal needs to examine the broader issues of church influence on politics and ensure that our electoral laws are robust enough to prevent similar operations in the future.

We also need to have a national conversation about the role of religion in shaping public policy. Ultimately, this story is not just about the Exclusive Brethren or their far-right allies – it’s about the state of democracy itself. As we move forward, we must be vigilant and ensure that our institutions are protected from those who seek to manipulate them for their own ends.

Lester Sharples, a senior Brethren figure behind the operation, confirmed “it was organised by a number of people, of which I was one” but claimed he didn’t know about money changing hands. This lack of transparency and accountability is exactly what we should be worried about – not just from the Exclusive Brethren but from any organization that seeks to influence our democracy.

The stakes are high, and it’s up to us as citizens to demand more from our leaders and institutions. We must ensure that our electoral laws are robust enough to prevent similar operations in the future, and that we have a clear understanding of where church influence ends and politics begins. Only then can we truly say that our democracy is safe from those who seek to manipulate it for their own ends.

The Exclusive Brethren’s secret election plot may be just the tip of the iceberg – but it’s a stark reminder of what happens when the boundaries between church and state are blurred. As we move forward, let us remain vigilant and demand more from our leaders. The future of democracy depends on it.