Exclusive Brethren secretly paid far-right agitators to disrupt 2025 election
Leaked messages reveal the Exclusive Brethren organized and paid far-right people. These people harassed political candidates during the federal campaign.
From the start of the 2025 election campaign, Anthony Albanese was being secretly tracked. On March 29, the Prime Minister held a press conference in Brisbane.
Far-right influencer Laurence McIntyre stormed through the media scrum yelling about immigration. Security bundled him out quickly.
McIntyre was one of several agitators. The Exclusive Brethren, a wealthy Christian sect, paid them to harass Labor, Greens and teal independent candidates.
Leaked encrypted messages show Brethren figures followed politicians and tracked the PM's plane. They gave agitators locations for stunts.
The operation was run by Brethren elders including Gareth Hales, son of the sect's world leader. One senior figure, Lester Sharples, said he helped organise the campaign but denied knowing about payments.
Six sources say the Brethren paid agitators in cash bundles after disruptions.
- 2025 federal election
- Campaign start
- Laurence McIntyre, far-right influencer
- Agitator paid
- Gareth Hales, son of Bruce Hales
- Operation head
- Nearly a dozen scripted stunts
- Disruption attempts
Why it mattersThe revelations show hidden coordination between a religious organization and far-right activists to influence a federal election. This raises questions about election integrity and secret campaign interference.
AustraliaAustralians who voted in 2025 were unknowingly influenced by a secretive operation involving a wealthy religious group and extremists; a recent parliamentary inquiry examined the claims.
Corroborated bytheage.com.au·watoday.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 11 d ago
