Brethren Church Denies Paying Far-Right Activists for Election Stunts 2026

The Brethren Church has denied paying far-right activists to stage election stunts targeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other politicians during the 2025 election campaign. The denial came during a parliamentary inquiry into the election, where church director Lloyd Grimshaw called the allegations a “complete lie.”

Brethren Church Denies Allegations of Election Interference

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, faced accusations that it secretly funded influencers to disrupt Labor’s campaign. Reports from Nine newspapers claimed the church paid individuals like Laurence McIntyre, who heckled the prime minister and had ties to neo-Nazi figures, to create disturbances.

Grimshaw told the inquiry that the church made no donations or support to any political party or third party involved in the election. He challenged the reporting, stating it lacked evidence: “This story doesn’t point to one amount of money, one detailed transaction, one quote, or one communication.”

Claims of Payments to Far-Right Influencers

The allegations suggested the church coordinated hundreds of volunteers to support Liberal candidates at polling booths nationwide. However, Grimshaw maintained that any volunteer activity was for “pretty normal reasons,” such as backing local candidates or concerns about the economy.

He also highlighted that church members faced “aggressive questioning” and “verbal abuse” at polling booths, which he attributed to the unsubstantiated allegations. The church has consistently denied any formal coordination with political campaigns.

Church's Response to Parliamentary Inquiry

Grimshaw emphasized that the church was targeted with “unsubstantiated” claims, and he questioned the credibility of the reports. He noted that no specific evidence was presented linking the church to the alleged payments or coordination.

The inquiry continues to examine the broader influence of religious groups and external actors in the election process. The church’s denial adds to the ongoing debate about transparency and foreign interference in Australian politics.

Comparison: Allegations vs. Church's Denial

Key Takeaways

• The Brethren Church firmly denies all allegations of election interference.
• No financial transactions or communications have been produced to support the claims.
• Church members reported harassment at polling booths due to the accusations.
• The parliamentary inquiry is examining the role of external groups in the 2025 election.

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