Turning Point USA supports Exclusive Brethren ahead of Australian hearing

The American right-wing advocacy group Turning Point USA has expressed support for the Exclusive Brethren as its leaders prepare to testify before an Australian parliamentary committee. Bruce Hales and his son, Gareth Hales, are scheduled to give evidence to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters regarding the church’s undisclosed pro-Coalition campaign during the previous election.

The committee is investigating whether the church should be classified as a ‘significant third-party’ campaigner due to the scale of its secretive financial and campaign contributions. While the Brethren claim that campaigning was conducted by motivated individual members rather than the church itself, investigators are looking into the coordination of activities against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other candidates.

Lucas Miles, leader of Turning Point USA Faith, characterized the summons as a potential ‘precedent of intimidation’ for religious organizations and called for the Trump administration to lobby the Australian government on the matter.