Exclusive Brethren linked to secret far-right plot to harass Australian politicians

Leaked messages have revealed a secret operation involving elders from a wealthy Christian sect, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, to influence the 2025 Australian federal election. The operation involved paying far-right agitators to harass Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his ministers, and various Greens and teal independent candidates through scripted stunts and disruptions.

Chat logs from encrypted apps show Brethren figures providing private intelligence on politicians' locations to activists with ties to white supremacist groups. One such individual, Laurence McIntyre, was identified as being part of a group tasked to “tail, photo/video, heckle” during campaign events. The communications link the operation to high-ranking members of the sect, including Gareth Hales, the son of the group's leader, Bruce Hales.